Contents [hide]

Rainville History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Rainville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Rainville family migrated to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname Rainville is based on the short forms of various Germanic personal names containing the element Ragin, meaning counsel. It it thought that the name could also have been derived from Rennes, in Brittany. 1 However, not all of the family joined the Conqueror as seen by the listing of Warenger Raine in Normandy (1180-1195.) 2

Phillipe de Rim or De Remi (c. 1246-1296), was long treated by English authorities as an Anglo-Norman poet, to whom were assigned two romances 'La Manekine' and 'Jehan de Dammartin et Blonde d'Oxford.' "Both show a close knowledge of Scottish and English life and topography in the thirteenth century." 3

Early Origins of the Rainville family

The surname Rainville was first found in Essex where Roger Rayne was granted lands at Rayne as companion in arms of William the Conqueror. 4 5 Other early spellings of the name include De Raines and Raneis. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Alice Reine in Cambridgeshire; John Reyn and Nicholas Reyn in Lincolnshire; Robert de Rennes in Oxfordshire; and Richard de Rennes. 6

The Feet of Fines for Essex in 1203-1204 includes an entry for Alveva de Reines and later the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire includes Richard de Rayns in 1297. Later Nicholas de Reynes was found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301. 5

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Robert Rayne; Johannes Rayne; Richard Rayneson; and William Rayne. 6

Early History of the Rainville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rainville research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1280 and 1530 are included under the topic Early Rainville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainville Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Rainville include Raines, Raine, Rayne and others.

Early Notables of the Rainville family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Reynes (fl. 1530), an English stationer and bookbinder in London, carried on business at the sign of St...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rainville Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainville Ranking

In the United States, the name Rainville is the 15,696^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Rainville is ranked the 521^st most popular surname. 8

Rainville migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Rainvilles to arrive on North American shores:

Rainville Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mme. Eugenie Rainville, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Mr. Henri Rainville, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1893
Noel Rainville, aged 47, who landed in America, in 1893
Arthur Rainville, aged 26, who landed in America from Paris, in 1897

Rainville Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Genevieve Rainville, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, France, in 1916
Georges Rainville, aged 47, who landed in America from Paris, France, in 1916

Rainville migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rainville Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

H. B. Rainville, aged 50, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1910
Henri Rainville, aged 50, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1912
Victoria Rainville, aged 51, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1912
Mrs. Henri Rainville, aged 38, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1913
Gustavas Hy. Rainville, aged 25, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1918
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rainville (post 1700) +

Martha Rainville (b. 1958), née Trim, American former Vermont National Guard Adjutant General, and retired Air Force Major General
Earl D. Rainville (1907-1966), American professor at the University of Michigan
Harold E. Rainville (b. 1907), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1952, 1964 9
Joseph-Hormisdas Rainville (1875-1942), Canadian lawyer and politician, Senator for Repentigny, Quebec (1932-1942), Member of the Canadian Parliament for Chambly-Verchères (1911-1917)
Henri-Benjamin Rainville (1852-1937), Canadian lawyer, politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec
Guy Rainville (b. 1963), Canadian politician, leader of the Green Party of Quebec (2008 to 2010)

The Rainville Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Judicium parium aut leges terrae
Motto Translation: The judgement of my peers, or the laws of the land.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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/
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html