Contents [hide]

Rentoul History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Rentoul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the Rentoul family

The surname Rentoul was first found in Kinross-shire, where they held a family seat in the lands of Rintoul in the parish of Orwell on the banks of beautiful Loch Leven. Their records on these estates go back to about 1300 which denies the family tradition that they may be of Huguenot origin.

Historians have linked the name to the Dutch Rintel which would make the family of Flemish origin, a more reasonable claim given the time frame in Scottish settlements, but still most unlikely.

Early History of the Rentoul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rentoul research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1642 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rentoul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rentoul Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rintool, Rintoole, Rintoul, Rintoule, Rentoul, Rentoule, Rentool, Rentoole and many more.

Early Notables of the Rentoul family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Sir Alexander Rentoul

Migration of the Rentoul family to Ireland

Some of the Rentoul family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rentoul migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rentoul Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Skinner Rentoul, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1845 1

Rentoul migration to Australia +

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

Rentoul Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Rentoul, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 2
Barbara Rentoul, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 2
Margaret Rentoul, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 2

Rentoul 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:

Rentoul Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Peter Rentoul, (b. 1843), aged 21, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1865 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Rentoul (post 1700) +

John Laurence Rentoul (1846-1926), Irish Presbyterian clergyman and a poet
James Alexander Rentoul (1854-1919), British judge and politician, Member of Parliament for Down East (1890-1893)
John Rentoul (b. 1958), British journalist, chief political commentator for The Independent since February 2004
Sir Gervais Squire Chittick Rentoul KC (1884-1946), British Conservative politician, son of Judge James Alexander Rentoul
Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, Australian illustrator of children's books

The Rentoul 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: Facta non verba
Motto Translation: Deeds not words.

Citations +

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) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html