Surname Ragland - Meaning and Origin

Deepening My Connection to the Past: A DNA Journey into the Heritage of Ragland

Taking a DNA test through iGENEA, I discovered the origins of my family name Ragland and traced my roots back to Celtic Britain. This test revealed intriguing information about my lineage, migratory patterns of my ancestors and provided a greater sense of identity and connection to my past.

W. Ragland

Ragland: What does the surname Ragland mean?

The surname Ragland is of Welsh origin, derived from the place name "Raglan," a village in Monmouthshire, Wales. The village's name is believed to mean "open land of the apes" in Old English, though other sources suggest it might mean "priest's land" in Welsh. The Ragland surname dates back to the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and was first held by Sir John Ragland, said to have accompanied Bernard de Neufmarche on his invasion of Wales in the 11th century. These origins suggest the Ragland family likely held a significant status within the community, possibly as landowners. The surname signifies a strong connection to the geographical location of Raglan, tying descendants to their Welsh heritage. Like many surnames, Ragland has been transcribed in various ways in historical documents, including Raglan, Ragland, Rugland, and Rhaglan. Today, it is relatively common in the United States and United Kingdom.

Ragland: Where does the name Ragland come from?

The last name Ragland is most commonly found across the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the year 2000, there were approximately 11,000 individuals in the United States carrying the Ragland surname.

The largest concentration of Raglands is found in the state of Alabama, with 6,333 individuals carrying the name at the time of the 2000 census. South Carolina followed in second place with 1,109, and then North Carolina with 902 individuals. The remaining individuals with that name were spread out across seventeen other states. Despite this wide geographic spread, the majority of states with Raglands fell within the southeastern United States.

The Ragland surname can also be found in countries abroad. In the United Kingdom, the name is most heavily-concentrated in the east-central region of England, coinciding with a large population of descendants from the region who have moved abroad over the years. Other countries in Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean have Raglands as well, though the numbers are much lower in comparison to the United States and United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Ragland

The Ragland family name can be traced back to England and Scotland, with variants like Raglan, Raglin, and Ragle appearing across Great Britain. In Scotland, the Ragland surname was first found in the districts of East Lothian and Midlothian, where they held a family seat from ancient times. This Ragland family is of Norman-English descent, as they settle in the Scottish lowlands in the 13th century.

Variants of Ragland are Raglan, Reglan, Ragelin, Raijgland, Ragle, Reigle, and Reigland, among many others. Some variants of Ragland may also be used as first names such as Raglan, Ragan, Ragen, Ragon, Regen, or Raygan.

The Ragland surname has also developed into various spellings, which include Ragland, Reigland, Rigland, Rygland, Regeland, Regaland, Ragleland, Raggland, Reglant, Reglan, Reiglande, Reiglandt, Riegland, Reglant with Reglanth and Reggland or Reegland being the Gaelic equivalent.

In Scotland, the Reigland spelling of the Ragland surname was most commonly found in Aberdeenshire, Midlothian, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. In Ireland, the Ragle spelling was most commonly used.

As with many surnames, the Ragland surname has spread to other nations, with variants found in the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand. In some families, the Ragland surname has even changed from one country to another. As migrants moved to new lands, the Ragland surname changed to better suit their new home. As these variants spread, the Ragland surname underwent many transformations, however the core values of loyalty, family, and strength remain.

Famous people with the name Ragland

• Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex: Meghan, the former American actress, is married to the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry and is the queen's second grandchild.
• Mary Ragland: Mary is the first African-American woman to rise through the ranks of the military, eventually reaching the rank of full Colonel.
• Appie Norman Ragland: Appie is a former professional basketball player who played in the Basketball Association of America from 1949 to 1950.
• Elisabeth Ragland: Elisabeth is a French actress who has appeared in several films including 1996's "Sixieme Sens" and 1999's "Mauvais Genre".
• Blair Ragland: Blair is an American rapper known for his work on the label Stand Out.
• Jo Ann Ragland: Jo Ann is an American actress and singer, best known for her role on the sitcom "Baby Talk".
• Laura Ragland: Laura is an American lawmaker who became the first African American woman to be elected to the New York State Assembly.
• Michael William Ragland Jr: Michael is a former competitive swimmer who competed in the 1988 Olympic Games.
• Tam Smidt-Ragland: Tam is an American performance artist who has staged numerous performances throughout California.
• James Lewis Ragland: James is a former National Football League safety who played for the Houston Oilers.

Other surnames

Raglan