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Raynor History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Raynor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Raynor is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name Rainer, which was taken from the Old Germanic name Raginhari which means counsel and army. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.

Early Origins of the Raynor family

The surname Raynor was first found in Herefordshire. The name was first recorded as Raynerus (Rainerus), a tenant in chief in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 A few years later Reynerus cancellarius was listed in Norfolk in 1101-1125 and Ricardus filius Rainer was listed at Winton in Hampshire in 1148. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the name as a personal name: Reyner le Blake in Norfolk; and Reyner Custance in Norfolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Anabilla Rayner and Thomas Rayner. 3

Early History of the Raynor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raynor research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1400, 1589, 1600, 1610, 1651 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Raynor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raynor Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Raynor has been spelled many different ways, including Rayners, Rainor, Rayner, Raynor, Rainer, Raynar, Rainyer, Reyner, Rauner, Raener, Rainar, Raynere, Raynars, Raynors, Raynore, Raynare, Raynair and many more.

Early Notables of the Raynor family

Distinguished members of the family include Edward Reyner (Rayner) (1600-c.1668), an English nonconforming clergyman, known as a devotional writer, born in the parish of Morley, near Leeds. Tobie Matthew, Archbishop of York, took some notice of him as a boy, and foretold that he would rise to distinction. Reyner escaped from Lincoln during the Royalist Occupation and...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Raynor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raynor Ranking

In the United States, the name Raynor is the 4,413^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Raynor migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Raynors to arrive in North America:

Raynor Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Raynor, aged 36, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", wife of Thurston Raynor, bound for Hempstead
Edward Raynor, aged 10, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Hempstead 5
Elizabeth Raynor, aged 7, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Hempstead 5
Joseph Raynor, aged 11, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Hempstead 5
Lydia Raynor, aged 1, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Hempstead 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Raynor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James K Raynor, who arrived in New York, NY in 1825 5
George Sorrine Raynor, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 5

Raynor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Raynor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jotham Raynor, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Raynor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Raynor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Raynor, British Convict who was convicted in Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
James Raynor, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Chatham" 7
Mr. Thomas Raynor, British Convict who was convicted in Manchester, England for 12 years, transported aboard the "Corona" on 13th October 1866, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 8

Raynor migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Raynor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Elizabeth Raynor, (b. 1827), aged 32, English settler from York travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 9
Mr. William Raynor, (b. 1827), aged 32, English compositor from York travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 9
Miss Marian Raynor, (b. 1855), aged 4, English settler from York travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 9
Miss Florence Raynor, (b. 1857), aged 2, English settler from York travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 9
Henry Raynor, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Strathnaver" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Raynor (post 1700) +

John Patrick Raynor (1923-1997), American Roman Catholic clergy and the twentieth president of Marquette University
John Patrick Raynor (b. 1984), American professional baseball outfielder
Scott William Raynor Jr. (b. 1978), American drummer
William Raynor (1795-1860), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
George S. Raynor (1907-1985), English professional footballer
Paul James Raynor (b. 1966), English former professional footballer
Geoffrey Raynor (1913-1983), English Professor of Metallurgy
Sheridan Raynor (b. 1934), former Bermudian cricketer
Eldon Raynor (b. 1933), former Bermudian cricketer
John Stephen Raynor (b. 1944), British novelist
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Raynor family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Francis Raynor (b. 1922), English Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Blackburn, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHATHAM 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/chatham1852.shtml
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/corona
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm