An English surname, Ringold is a combination of two family land areas called Ringborough and Roos. There is also a German form with the spelling being Ringolt which comes from ‘hring’ and ‘wald’ which means a ring to rule. Variations in spelling for Ringold include Ryngrose, Ringgold, Ringerose, Ryngerose and Ringrose. In England the early Ringold families lived in the north around Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire and the city of London. Many of the Ringold families later settled in Ireland. From there in the early 1800s they moved to Canada and the United States. Within the United States the Ringold families are primarily in Mississippi, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Ohio. Famous: Edward Ringgold (awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Civil War).