Rainsford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The ancestors of the name Rainsford date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Rainsford family lived in the chapelry of Rainford in the parish of Prescot in Lancashire. The surname Rainsford is a habitation name which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. In this case the surname Rainsford was originally derived from the Old English Regnaforde which refers to those individuals who lived by the ford. However, there is also evidence that the name in fact referred to Danish settlers, who came from Randers Fiord, Denmark.

Early Origins of the Rainsford family

The surname Rainsford was first found in Lancashire where they were found since ancient times, perhaps even predating the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. Early records, and the church cemetery show bearers of the name in Little Crosby, Lancashire.

Early History of the Rainsford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rainsford research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1469, 1482, 1529, 1537, 1538, 1559, 1605, 1632, 1652, 1660, 1663, 1680, 1690, 1700, 1701, 1709 and 1933 are included under the topic Early Rainsford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainsford Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Rainsford are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Rainsford include: Rainford, Rainsford, Raynsford, Raynsforde, Reinsford, Reinsforde, Raynesford, Rainesford, Rainesforde, Ranford, Ranforde, Randsford, Randford, Randeford and many more.

Early Notables of the Rainsford family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir John Raynsford of Bradfield Hall, Essex; and his son, Sir John Raynsford (by 1482-1559) was an English politician, High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire (1537-1538), Member of Parliament for Col...
His nephew Edward Rainsford, owned Rainsford Island, in the Boston Harbor in 1632 which later became known as Hospital Island, Pest House Island, and Quarantine Island before it was renamed back to it...

Migration of the Rainsford family to Ireland

Some of the Rainsford 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.

Rainsford migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Rainsford or a variant listed above:

Rainsford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Rainsford, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Dorchester.
Mrs. Rainsford who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Dorchester.
Edward Rainsford, aged 26, British settler who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 1
John Rainsford, who also settled in America in 1680

Rainsford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Giles Rainsford, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 1

Rainsford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs A Rainsford, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892

Rainsford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs. Rainsford, aged 48, who settled in America, in 1904
William John Reade Rainsford, aged 54, who landed in America from Kingston Jamaica, in 1906
David Rainsford, aged 26, who immigrated to America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1908
Francis Rainsford, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Kedderminister,England, in 1909
Kate J. Rainsford, aged 23, who settled in America from Lismagoy, Ireland, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rainsford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rainsford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Andrew Rainsford U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Mr. Andrew Rainsford U.E. (b. 1734) who settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick c. 1786 he was Barrack Master, the First Receiver-General in New Brunswick, he died in 1820 2

Rainsford migration to Australia +

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

Rainsford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Rainsford, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 3
James Rainsford, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sultana" 4

Rainsford migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 5

Rainsford Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Edward Rainsford, who settled in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Rainsford (post 1700) +

Marguerite "Jill" Rainsford (1905-1994), American actress, songwriter, painter and author
Seymour Grome Rainsford (1900-1994), English surgeon, Rear Admiral, Deputy Medical Director-General of the Royal Navy, and Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur
William Henry Rainsford (d. 1822), English Major General
Marcus Rainsford (b. 1805), Irish author, younger son of Edward Rainsford of Sallins, co. Kildare
General Charles Rainsford (1728-1809), British Army officer and politician, Governor of Gibraltar (1794-1795), buried at the Tower of London
Edward Charles Rainsford (b. 1984), Zimbabwean cricketer
Douglas Rainsford Tompkins (1943-2015), American conservationist, businessman and founder of the outdoor clothing company The North Face
Andrew Rainsford Wetmore (1820-1892), Canadian politician and jurist, 1st Premier of New Brunswick (1867-1870)
Sir Thomas Rainsford Bavin (b. 1874), New Zealand-born, Australian politician, 24th Premier of New South Wales