This interesting and unusual name has two possible origins. Firstly, it may be a variant of the old English pre 7th Century "hring", meaning ring. The old High German word "hring" and the old Norse "hringr" have the same meaning, so consequently the name may be either German or Scandinavian in origin. Thus Ring was originally given as a metonymic occupational name to a maker of rings, but later in Scandinavia it was adopted as an ornamental name. The surname may also be topographical for someone living on a river in Somerset, formerly known as the "Wring" (now the "Yeo"), perhaps from a British word meaning "twisted", or "crooked". Mary Ring married John Lye at Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset in 1572 while Agnes, daughter of John Ringe or Kinge was christened at Bath Abbey, Bath, Somerset on July 20th 1579. Pasxley Wringe married Christopher Chilcott at Wiveliscombe, Somerset on November 6th 1646. A Mirfiled, Yorkshire, Sarah Ruth, daughter of John and Sarah Wring was christened on March 10th 1833. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Eilwinus Ring, which was dated 1207, The Chartulary Rolls of Norfolk, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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