Rainer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Bavaria, Germany is the original homeland of the Rainer family. Rainer is a patronymic name, a type of surname that derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. Rainer was derived from the Old Germanic personal name Raginhari, which is composed of the Old German elements ragin, which means counsel, and hard, which means hardy.

Early Origins of the Rainer family

The surname Rainer was first found in Bavaria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. Chronicles first mention Reinerus Reynberti of Rostolk around 1280. The Latin "Renerus" also became "Reinher" from which "Reinhard" was formed. In their later history the Reiners became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Rainer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rainer research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1647 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Rainer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainer Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Rainer include Reiner, Reine, Reinere, Rhiner, Reiners, Rainer, Rainers, Rainert, Rainere, Renerus (Latin) and many more.

Early Notables of the Rainer family

Prominent among members of the name Rainer in this period include Vincentio (Vincenzio, Vincenzo) Reinieri (Renieri, Reiner) (1606-1647), an Italian mathematician and astronomer, close friend and disciple of...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rainer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainer Ranking

In the United States, the name Rainer is the 8,620^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Rainer migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Rainers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Rainer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Rainer and her husband James settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767

Rainer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Pell Del Rainer, aged 81, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 2
John, Peter and Phillip Rainer, who arrived in Pennsylvania between 1772 and 1851
J Rainer, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
Joseph A Rainer, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1857 2
George Rainer, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1860 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rainer (post 1700) +

Yvonne Rainer (b. 1934), American dancer, choreographer and filmmaker
Wali Rainer (b. 1977), retired American NFL football linebacker
Dachine Rainer (1921-2000), American-born, English poet and anarchist
S. P. Rainer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1908 3
Luise Rainer (b. 1910), German film actress
Roland Rainer (1910-2004), Austrian architect
Reinhold Rainer (b. 1973), Italian luger
Marie-Louise Rainer, Italian silver and two-time bronze medalist luger
Gerhard Rainer (b. 1961), Austrian bobsledder
Arnulf Rainer (b. 1929), Austrian abstract painter
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html