Surname Renfroe - Meaning and Origin
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Renfroe: What does the surname Renfroe mean?
Renfroe is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the place-name Rainford, located near Prescot in Lancashire, England. The place-name Rainford is believed to have originated from the Old English elements "regen" meaning "fern" and "ford" which implies a "ford", a shallow area in a river or stream allowing one to walk or ride through. Thus, the name reflects geographic or topographic features of the landscape suggesting that the earliest people with this surname lived near a fern-covered ford. Over the centuries, the pronunciation and spelling of the name have evolved, resulting in its current form Renfroe. In the process of trace migration, some families migrated from England to Ireland, and then onwards to the New World. Like many surnames, individuals bearing the name Renfroe can be found all over the world today, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Order DNA origin analysisRenfroe: Where does the name Renfroe come from?
The last name Renfroe is most common in the United States of America. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are over 3,700 people with the last name Renfroe in the U.S. Alabama has the highest population of Renfroes with over 860 people. The states of Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi all have more than 600 Renfroes each. The states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana all fall within the top ten states for Renfroe population.
The Renfroes have their roots in the British Isles. Most Renfroes trace their ancestry back to England or Scotland. The name Renfroe first appears on the pre-conquest Doomsday Rolls of 1086. Renfroe families could be found in Gloucestershire, Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset, Hampshire, and Surrey.
Beginning in the 1700s, many Renfroes immigrated to the Southern United States. In the early 1800s, the Renfroe name was embraced by the Scots-Irish who settled in the Appalachians. Renfroes migrated to the Gulf Coast in the mid-1800s.
Today, the Renfroes are spread throughout the Southeastern United States with many still tracing their roots back to the British Isles. The Renfroes are continuing to make their mark on American culture and having proud of their ancestral origins.
Variations of the surname Renfroe
Variants, spellings, and surnames for the same origin of the surname Renfroe include Ranfrow, Renfro, Renfrow, Renfroe, Rennphro, Renfre, Rennfro, Reynfroe, Rennfroe, Rendfroe, Ranfroe, Renfroes, Renpfroe, Remyfroe, Reynfro, Rennfrey, and Rinefrow.
Renfroe is an Anglo-Norman name dating back to Medieval French. Its Old French form is Rennfroi (or similar), which derives from the Old German word 'friduara' meaning 'peace' or 'protection'. This would have been used to denote a person who was a protector or champion of peace.
In the United States, forms of the Renfroe surname are most commonly associated with southern origins, as the first settlers with this name came to Northeastern Virginia and the Carolinas in the late 17th century. It is likely that the Renfroe families of Virginia and the Carolinas are descended from the same ancestors as those in England and France.
Today, Renfroe is an uncommon surname, appearing mainly in the Southern United States, especially in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. Other forms of the Renfroe surname may be more common in the UK and France.
Famous people with the name Renfroe
- Hunter Renfroe: Professional Baseball player for the San Diego Padres
- Jaycob Renfroe: former professional baseball player for the Texas Rangers
- Brandon Renfroe: Retired professional Basketball Player
- Sarah Renfroe: American politician, Georgia State House Representative
- Kevin Renfroe: Former professional baseball player for the Detroit Tigers
- Curtis Renfroe: Former NFL and UFL Player
- D.J. Renfroe: Professional Football Player for the Washington Redskins
- Maura Renfroe: American film producer and executive
- Milan Renfroe: American actress and voice actress
- Steve Renfroe: Host of 'The Swing Shift'