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Renton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Renton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Renton family

The surname Renton was first found in Berwickshire at Renton, in the parish of Coldingham. "The Rentons of Renton were hereditary foresters of Coldingham in the reign of William the Lion, and Ricardus forestarius appears in record as Ricardus de Reningtona. In the fourteenth century the Rentons were an influential family of burgesses in Berwick. During the fifteenth century the family terminated in the direct line in a daughter who married Ellem of Ellemsford. Robert de Rentun witnessed a charter by Herbert, abbot of Kelso, c. 1225. Symon of Rennyngton, burgess of Jedburgh, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 197). John de Raynton who had a charter of lands of Over Lamberton in 1323 is probably the John de Rainton (Rayntoun, or Rayneton) who was burgess and customar of Berwick in 1325 and following years and c. 1332 received a charter of lands in Kirckambirton." 1

In England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Mathew de Renedon, or Reneton, Devon; and Robert de Reyndon, Warwickshire. 2

Early History of the Renton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Renton research. Another 251 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1235, 1296, 1330, 1429, 1431, 1464, 1473, 1479, 1500, 1548, 1557, 1561, 1569, 1590, 1634, 1646 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Renton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Renton Spelling Variations

Although the name, Renton, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Renton, Wrenton, Rentin, Renten, Wrenten, Wrentin and others.

Early Notables of the Renton family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Renton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Renton migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Renton family name Renton, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Renton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Renton, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 3
William Renton, who settled in Nevis in 1722

Renton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Renton, who arrived in America in 1819 3
Mary Renton arrived with her husband in New York in 1822
Mary Renton, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1822 3
William Renton, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1835 3

Renton migration to Australia +

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

Renton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

David Renton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 4
Richard Renton, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 5
John Renton, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Omega" 6
Mr. William Renton who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Clara" on 19th March 1857, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 7

Renton 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:

Renton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. J. Renton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 8
Mrs. Renton, British settler travelling from London with 2 children aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 8
Mr. John Renton, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd September 1860 8
Mrs. Renton, Scottish settler with 2 daughters travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd September 1860 8
Arthur Renton, aged 24, a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dunedin" in 1875 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Renton (post 1700) +

Kristen Louise Renton (b. 1982), American actress, known for her recurring role as Ima on Sons of Anarchy and her former role on Days of Our Lives (1965)
David Malcolm Renton (1878-1947), known as “DM”, an American builder and business executive
W. W. Renton, American politician, Mayor of Wheaton, Illinois, 1942 10
Peter Renton, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 4th District, 1840-42 10
Merle G. Renton, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1940 10
George F. Renton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Hawaii Territory, 1912 10
Fletcher Lowrie Renton (b. 1900), American Republican politician, Mayor of Royal Oak, Michigan, 1938-43; Resigned 1943; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1940 10
Ronald Timothy Renton PC (b. 1932), Baron Renton of Mount Harry, English politician, Minister for the Arts (1990-1992), Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (1989-1990), Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex (1974-1997)
Paul John Renton (1962-2017), New Zealand rugby union player
Kris Joseph Renton (b. 1990), Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Newtongrange Star
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOFFATT 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Moffatt.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TRAFALGAR 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Trafalgar-March.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/omega1852.shtml
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 11th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 9th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html