| ![Show Contents]() Rennison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Rennison has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the region of Renwick beside the Eden river in Cumberland. Rennison is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Rennison familyThe surname Rennison was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Rennison familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rennison research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1662, 1676, 1685, 1687 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Rennison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rennison Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Rennison have been found, including Renwick, Rennick and others. Early Notables of the Rennison familyDistinguished members of the family include James Renwick (1662-1688), a Scottish minister, the last of the Covenanter martyrs, sentenced to die by hanging. He was the youngest child of Andrew Renwick (d. 1 Feb. 1676), a weaver, born near the village of Moniaive in the parish of Glencairn, Dumfriesshire. Several previous children had died in infancy; James received the careful training of an only child. Renwick refused to join the insurrection of 1685 under Archibald Campbell, ninth earl of Argyll. On 18 Oct., 1687, a...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rennison Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Rennison family to Ireland
Some of the Rennison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Rennison migration to Canada | + |
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Rennison, or a variant listed above: Rennison Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- John Rennison, who arrived in Prince Edward Island in 1817
| Rennison migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Rennison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Richard Rennison, English convict who was convicted in Kendal (Kirkby in Kendal), Cumbria, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 1
- Henry Rennison, aged 38, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" 2
- Henry Rennison, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" in 1849 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Rennison (post 1700) | + |
- Louise Rennison (1951-2016), English author and comedian, best known for her work on Angus, Thongs, Full-Frontal Snogging and Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
- Air Vice-Marshal David Ralph Grey Rennison CB, former senior Royal Air Force officer, Air Member for Logistics (2006–2007)
- Richard Rennison (1889-1969), the last English-born "anvil priest" who regularly performed about 300 marriages a year from 1926-1935 at the Old Blacksmith Shop, Gretna Green, Scotland
- Colleen Rennison (b. 1987), Canadian singer/songwriter and actress from Vancouver, British Columbia
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Rennison migration to Canada 
Rennison migration to Australia 
England
Ireland
