Show ContentsRenich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Renich family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in the region of Renwick beside the Eden river in Cumberland. Renich 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 Renich family

The surname Renich 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 Renich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Renich research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1662, 1676, 1685, 1687 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Renich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Renich Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Renich include Renwick, Rennick and others.

Early Notables of the Renich family

Distinguished 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 Renich Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Renich family to Ireland

Some of the Renich 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.

Migration of the Renich family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Renich or a variant listed above: Samuel Renick settled in Philadelphia in 1804; John Renwick was banished to New Jersey in 1685; Francis, James and William Renwick arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..


Contemporary Notables of the name Renich (post 1700) +

  • Lucy Hannah Renich (1875-1953), American Republican politician, Postmaster at Woodstock, Illinois, 1925-34 [1]
  • Charles F. Renich (1871-1947), American Republican politician, Postmaster at Woodstock, Illinois, 1899-1911; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1932 [1]


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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