The disorder is named after James Ramsay Hunt, a physician who first described the disorder in 1907.
Several different names have been used to denote this disorder in the medical literature often causing confusion. Years ago, more than one disorder bore the designation Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is now used to denote the disorder described in this report. The disorder is also sometimes known as Herpes Zoster Oticus because of the characteristic ear rash. However, some physicians use Herpes Zostic Oticus only for the ear rash and Ramsay Hunt syndrome for the combination of ear rash and facial paralysis
See more on the life of James Ramsay Hunt: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1076/jhin.12.3.266.16672?journalCode=njhn20