Surname Renfrew - Meaning and Origin
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Renfrew: What does the surname Renfrew mean?
The surname Renfrew originates from the Gaelic term "Rinn Friu", which means "point at the current" or "cape of the waters". This name was derived from the historic county town of Renfrew, situated on the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Renfrew was a Royal Burgh, an administrative and historical region, which got its name probably due to its location near the River Clyde and at the head of the tidal flow where the current of the river is most conspicuous. The surname Renfrew, therefore, is thought to be a geographical surname, given initially to those who inhabited or was associated with this area. Like other surnames, through migration and lineage, it eventually spread beyond its place of origin. Through centuries, the Renfrew surname has had many different spellings including Renfrew, Renfrey and others due to the process of anglicization.
Order DNA origin analysisRenfrew: Where does the name Renfrew come from?
The last name Renfrew is predominantly common in the British Isles today. Although, the surname itself did originate in the Scottish County of Renfrewshire, it is most common in England and Northern Ireland. And, according to the 1881 census of England and Wales, Renfrew was the 143rd most common surname in the region.
The highest concentration of Renfrews can be found in the Northwest of England. Lancashire for example, has a higher than average concentration of people called Renfrew. Although, there are smaller concentrations of people called Renfrews along the east coast, and in Wales and Scotland still.
It seems that if you ventured further afield, the name Renfrew is still quite popular all over the British Isles, but no longer as heavily concentrated as before. This can be due to high emigration and population flows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. So, Renfrew is today, not as heavily concentrated as it once was, but still, a relatively common British surname in all four nations.
Variations of the surname Renfrew
The surname Renfrew has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The original spelling of the surname is Renfrew, but it can also be spelled as Renfrie, Renfrow, Renfre, Renfray, Rendfrew, Renfroe, Rendfroe, Rendfrey, Rendfray, Rendfrie, Rhenfrew, Rhenfroe, Rhenfray, Rhenfrie, and Renfree.
Renfroe and Renfree are unusual spellings of the surname, but are still found in some parts of the United States.
The various spellings of the surname all originate from the place name Renfrewshire, which is located in Scotland. The surname Renfrew is an Anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic name Rinn Friobhuidhe, which translates to "pointed headland of Friobhuidhe".
Variants of Renfrew include Rann, Renfry, Rendriff, Rennfri, Ranfer, Raunfrae, Ranfri, Ranfruh, Ranffery, Rhenfrey, and Ranfowe.
Surnames with the same origin as Renfrew include Rann, Dunnfri, Helffrey, Turnfrae, Tanfrae, Knifrae, and Lafrae. These surnames are rarely found today, but were more common in the late 18th and early nineteenth centuries.
Other surnames of the same origin are Rannison, Ferrari, Furness, and Renfro. Renfro is particularly popular in the United States and is a variant of the surname Renfrew.
In conclusion, Renfrew is a surname of Scottish origin with numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These surnames are often found in families with Scottish ancestry, but are also quite common in the United States.
Famous people with the name Renfrew
- Marilyn Renfrew: Canadian classical singer and pedagogue
- Mary Renfrew: British midwife and academic
- Mark Renfrew: American whitewater paddler
- James Renfrew: Australian lawyer and politician
- Howard Renfrew: American farmer and politician
- George Renfrew: Canadian accountant and politician
- Dr.Beth Renfrew: American neurologist
- Lawrence Renfrew: Canadian hockey player
- David Renfrew: American actor and producer
- C.J. Renfrew: American football player
- Tom Renfrew: Canadian figure skater
- John Renfrew: British publisher and politician
- Dianna Renfrew- Australian actress
- Paulette Renfrew: Canadian artist
- Sarah Renfrew: British author
- Tim Renfrew: American Wrestler
- Jordan Renfrew: Canadian Hockey Player
- Lorne Renfrew: Canadian Soccer Player
- Maddie Renfrew: Australian radio presenter
- Diego Renfrew: American tennis player