Ringer
An occupational surname for a bell-ringer, especially someone skilled at ringing church bells.
The #6,430 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 58,441 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ringer is an occupational surname from Middle English, referring to a person who rang bells. In historical naming, it could apply to a church bell-ringer, and in some towns also to the officer who rang the hours or served as a town crier. The surname is built from the verb "ring" plus the agent suffix "-er," literally meaning "one who rings."
History
English surname dictionaries note Ringer as a straightforward occupational name, and related forms such as Bellringer and Ringbell appear in the record. It is the sort of surname that could arise independently in several places where bell-ringing was a recognizable job. The name remains relatively uncommon in the United States but is established in English-speaking records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older sources treat the bell-ringer as a particularly likely source because ringing church bells was a specialized and respected medieval task.
From the historical record
“sometimes called Rings. RINGER. A skilful ringer of church bells would readily acquire this surname. See Bellringcr. The surname Ringebell, or Eingbell, is found in the H.R. RIORDAN. An old Irish siu-name, variously written O'Rierdon, Reyrdon, Reardon, Reardcn, &c. RIPER. I. A corruption of DeRipariis, or Rivers.…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom