Ramirez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of Spain emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Ramirez family. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spainwere the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother’s given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is ez. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Ramirez is derived from the popular Spanish personal name Ramírez, which is a pet form of the first name Ramón, which means wise ruler. 

Early Origins of the Ramirez family

The surname Ramirez was first found in Asturias, cradle of the Christian Reconquest of Spain.

Early History of the Ramirez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ramirez research.

Ramirez Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ramírez, Ramirez, Ranimírez, Ranimirez, Raimíriz, Raimiriz, Remíriz, Remiriz, Remírez, Remirez and many more.

Early Notables of the Ramirez family (pre 1700)

Prominent among members of the family were Francisco Ramírez y Ramírez, a general in the army of Ferdinand and Isabella, who participated in the reconquest of Malaga and Granada; Andrés Ramírez, book illuminator in sixteenth century Seville; Alonso Ramírez of Puerto Rico, seventeenth century explorer and adventurer; Diego Ramírez de Arellano.

Ramirez World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ramirez is the 70^th most popular surname with an estimated 261,135 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Ramirez is ranked the 1,533^rdmost popular surname with an estimated 3,851 people with that name. [2] And in South America, the name Ramirez is the 25^th popular surname with an estimated 125 people with that name. [3]

 Ramirez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Ramirez Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Luis Ramírez, who voyaged to the Río de la Plata region of Argentina in 1528 and documented his travels in the form of a journal
• Cristóbal Ramírez, who immigrated to Peru in 1560
• Juan Ramírez, went to New Granada in 1561
• Santiago Ramírez, went to New Spain in 1562
• Antonio Ramírez, went to Hispaniola in 1562

Ramirez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Antonio Ramirez, who arrived in America in 1813 [4]
• Diego Ramirez, who arrived in America in 1816 [4]
• Melchior Ramírez, who joined an expedition to Argentina and survived being shipwrecked off the coast of Brazil
• A Ramirez, aged 25, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1825 [4]
• Gonzales Ramirez, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 [4]

 Ramirez migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [5]

Ramirez Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

• Luis Ramirez, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1837 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Ramirez (post 1700) +

• J. R. Ramirez, Cuban-American actor, best known for his regular role of Detective Jared Vasquez on the NBC series Manifest
• Rafael “Felo” Ramírez (1923-2017), Cuban-American Spanish language sports announcer for the Miami Marlins
• Alvaro Alberto Espinoza Ramírez, American professional softball player
• Michael Patrick Ramirez (b. 1961), Japanese-born, American two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist
• Ricardo Ramirez (b. 1936), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Las Cruces
• Efren Ramirez (b. 1973), American actor
• Orlando Ramírez, American professional baseball player
• Dr. Salvador M Ramírez, American orthopedic surgeon
• Armando Ramirez, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly, 1932 (New York County 20th District), 1933 (New York County 17th District), 1934 (New York County 17th District) [6]
• Anthony Ramirez (b. 1937), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 2004 [6]