It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Raynart was formed. The name was derived 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.
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Early Origins of the Raynart family
The surname Raynart was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. There is also an entry in the Domesday Book 1086)) listing a Rogerus filius Rainardi, Rainart in Norfolk.
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Early History of the Raynart family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raynart research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1589, 1649 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Raynart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Raynart Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Raynart include Reynard, Reynardson, Renhard, Renyard, Reinard and many more.
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Early Notables of the Raynart family
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Raynart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Raynart family
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Raynart were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Johnis Rynard, who was on record in New York in 1687; Joan Reynard, who came to America from Ireland in 1740; Caspar Reynard, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1751.
England
