Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Ramsay” come from?

Ramsay is an English place name derived from Old English hramsa, from Proto-Germanic hramusô, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kermus-.

Ancestry of “Ramsay”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishRamsey—
2Old Englishhramsaonion; garlic, ramsons, wild garlic, "Allium...
3Proto-Germanic*hramusō—
4Proto-Germanichramusôramson, wild garlic
5Proto-Indo-Europeankremus-wild garlic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kremus- →