Surname Ralston - Meaning and Origin
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Ralston: What does the surname Ralston mean?
The last name Ralston is of Scottish origin and derives from a location in Scotland known as Ralston. The name likely originated from ral, a mix of Scottish Gaelic and Old English meaning "a house or settlement," and stoun, meaning "stone."
This surname has various spellings in different locations with similar meanings. These include Ralston, Ralson, Rawlston, Rawston, and Rolleston. It is a fairly common surname and can be found in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Those with the last name Ralston typically come from a proud Scottish line. They are descendants of a family unit from a physical location long associated with the name. Ralston is generally interpreted as meaning someone from a small settlement of stone dwellings, a reflection of the history of the family in Scotland.
The Ralston name is both a proud one and one steeped in history. It is a badge of honor and respect for one's roots, originating from the lowlands of Scotland and spanning many regions and countries. Those who bear the last name of Ralston can embrace the fact that within it lies a proud heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisRalston: Where does the name Ralston come from?
The last name Ralston is an English surname with Scottish origins. In Scotland, the Ralston family has marched in various historical battles such as the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The last name Ralston is most commonly found in the United States. According to various genealogy records, it is estimated that around 28,400 Americans bear the Ralston surname. Its presence is especially strong in the states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Its presence in other countries is far less but it can still be found in England, Canada, and Australia.
Within the United States, the Ralston name is most commonly found in the Midwest. According to the 2010 census, Michigan is home to 1,761 Ralston family members. In Minnesota, there are 1,419 people with the Ralston name and in Pennsylvania, 1,378 people bear the Ralston name. It is also present in many other states such as Illinois and Ohio.
As the last name Ralston is mostly found in the United States, it is most likely that this surname would be quite difficult to find in other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Ralston
The surname Ralston is a patronymic (son of) name originating from the given name Ralph. It is a fairly common surname found throughout England, Ireland and Scotland due to the long history of British colonization.
Ralston is the most common spelling of this surname. It is also spelled as Roulston and Ralstone in some cases. Other variants of Ralston include: Rawlston, Rawlstoun, Roulstone, Raulston, Rowlstone, Ralsten, Ralaston, Raulstun, Ralastone and Rowlston.
Ralston is also a variant of the Scottish surname Ralstone, which is a form of Rauldston, which is itself a variant of Ralston. The Scottish variant of the surname is typically spelled Ralstoun.
In addition, surnames related to Ralston include Ralestin, Ralestine, Ralestone, Ralstin, Raustin, Raustine, and Rawstin. Some of these surnames may also have other variations, such as Rawstine or Rolston.
In all, the surname Ralston is derived from the given name Ralph and has many variants, spellings and related surnames. Whether the spelling is Ralston, Ralstoun, Rawstin or any of the other variations, the surname originated from the English, Scottish and Irish heritage of Ralph.
Famous people with the name Ralston
- Nate Ralston, former professional snowboarder, television personality and podcast host
- David Ralston, Speaker of the Georgia General Assembly
- Stephen Ralston, professional mixed martial artist
- Sean Ralston, professional golfer
- Tim Ralston, American survivalist and author
- Jodi Ralston, American actress
- Brian Ralston, award-winning classical composer and director of the Princeton Studio for the Arts
- Jeff Ralston, professional hockey player and coach
- AnnaSophia Robb, actress, model and singer with the professional name of AnnaSophia Ralston
- Dave Ralston, professional hockey player