Ringwald

Ringwald is a surname of German origin. The name is likely formed from the German elements Ring and Wald, meaning “ring” and “forest,” and it may have originated as a toponymic or descriptive name associated with a place feature or boundary in a wooded area.

Notable people with the surname include Molly Ringwald (born 1968), an American actress and writer who rose to prominence in the 1980s for films such as The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink. She has continued to work in film and television and has written novels for young readers.

In contemporary usage, Ringwald remains relatively uncommon and is most often found among individuals with Germanic heritage or families traced to German-speaking regions. The surname can appear in various countries, including those with historical migration links to Germany.