This ancient surname is common throughout Germanic and Nordic countries. It has also been imported into the the United Kingdom and has a unique origin in Ireland. This surname probably has various origins in Britain, though little evidence is available to determine which. It is usually suggested that the surname was assumed by someone who made rings, wore a ring, or rang a church bell. Given that there are no known occurrences of the name 'Ringmaker' and the small number of people who plied such a craft, this origin is suspect. It is highly likely the surname would have been assumed by someone who wore a ring, particularly as this origin has been documented on the continent. It is also likely the surname would have been adopted by a bell-ringer, as evidenced by the surnames Bellringer and Ringbell. In Europe, the surname also has also been adopted from house names.

In Ireland, the surname is an Anglicization of the Gaelic, 'Ó Rinn' -'the son of Rinn.' This is confirmed by the high incidence of Rings, and derivatives of Rinn in County Cork. See Rinn, Reen etc. As a surname it means, 'descendant of Rinn.'

• 1207. Eilwinus Ring, of Norfolk: Rotuli chartarum in Turri Londinensi
• 1303. Woutren den Ring, of Brugge: Meertens Instituut
• 1360. Robert Ryng, of Ireland: Chapters in the Administrative History of Mediaeval England
• 1402. Robert Bradshagh acquired from John le Ring and Joan his wife a burgage and a half burgage by the churchyard: Scarisbrick Deeds
• 1425. Robert Ryng, of Enfield: A Calendar to the Feet of Fines for London & Middlesex
• 1437. Ricaut van Rixingen weert in den Gulden Rinck, Tongeren: Meertens Instituut
• 1455. Gertruyt metten Rijnghen, Den Bosch: Meertens Instituut

(English) Dweller at a large drain or channel on the moor.

Many old towns have, or have had, an open space or circus, where, in former times, bull-baiting, and such-like barbarous pastimes took place, and these are sometimes called Rings.

(Dutch.) Local. A Canton; a district of an ecclesiastical congregation.

Ring, Ringe, Ringa, as ancient names, are from the Su. -Goth. ring, an eminent man (vir præstans, eximius), connected with the C. B. rhen, satrapa; Anglo-Saxon rinc, a soldier, warrior, a valiant, noble, or honourable man; Scottish, rink, rync, a strong man; Old German recke, reche, rink, a hero, giant; High German hringa, a prince, governor, which Ihre seems to think are from reke, recke, heros, athleta, probably connected with the Su. -Goth. reiks, a prince. There were kings of Scandinavia named Sigivid Ring and Hakan Ring, and, says Ihre, Ring is the name of many places in Scandinavia which were formerly the seats of heroes. The Modern. Danish, ringe, Scottish. ringa, is small, little, slight, humble, low. Ring may also sometimes be from ring, a circle. compare the Italian name Aniello, whence Masaniello, from Thomaso Aniello. Ring is the name of a place near Dungarvan in Ireland.