In several versions the Captain's daughter teaches Ranzo navigation (and other things), and they eventually marry. There are other endings as well; the crew throws Ranzo overboard because he is so dirty, he steals the captain's turkey and is lashed, and in other endings Ranzo has several adventures under the sea after he is thrown overboard.

There are several theories as to the identity of Reuben Ranzo.

1. Ranzo may have been an abbreviation of Lorenzo, a common Portuguese name. In this theory Ranzo was a native of the Azores who, like many of the island, shipped aboard a whaler as a harpooner.
2. A Danish naval hero of the sixteenth century was named Daniel Rantzau. He was a hero of Denmark's Seven Years' War with Sweden and is often referred to in Danish sea songs. However, Hugill says it is unlikely he had a connection with whalers.
3. Another theory is that Ranzo was a Russian or Polish Jew with a name similar to Ronzoff. Jews were rarely at sea and were rumored to not like soap and water. In addition tailor was a common occupation of Jews.
4. He may have been a Latin-American greenhorn. 'Reuben,' 'Reub' and 'Rube' were common terms for farmer.

Because many shantymen sang 'Renzo,' Hugill believes the Lorenzo origin is most probable.*

*The stones used to clean the ship's decks were called holy stones.

• Archipelago Azores
• The Azores
• Daniel Rantzau.
• New Bedford Whaling Museum