Contents [hide]

Raines History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Raines History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Raines is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Raines family when they emigrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Raines comes from 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 Raines family

The surname Raines 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 Raines family

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

Raines Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Raines were recorded, including Raines, Raine, Rayne and others.

Early Notables of the Raines 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 Raines Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raines Ranking

In the United States, the name Raines is the 1,392^nd most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 7

Raines migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Raines arrived in North America very early:

Raines Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Raines, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 8

Raines Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Raines, who arrived in Virginia in 1723 8
Patrick Raines, who arrived in America in 1741

Raines Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Raines, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1828
E Raines, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1856 8

Raines migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Raines Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Richard Raines, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. David Raines U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 433 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 9
Miss. Tabitha Raines D.U.E. (b. 1771), aged 12 who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 602 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 9

Raines migration to Australia +

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

Raines Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Raines, (b. 1798), aged 45, English ploughman who was convicted in Canterbury (St Ausgustines), Kent, England for 15 years for stealing transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1872 10

Raines 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:

Raines Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Raines, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 23rd March 1848 11
Esther Raines, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874

Raines 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. 12

Raines Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Francis Raines, who arrived in Barbados in 1657
Robert Raines, who arrived in Barbados in 1679
Charles Raines, and his wife Mary, who settled in Jamaica in 1686

Contemporary Notables of the name Raines (post 1700) +

Julian Paul Raines (d. 2018), American businessman, CEO of GameStop, an American video game, consumer electronics, and wireless services retailer
Cristina Raines (b. 1952), born Cristina Herazo, an American nurse and former actress, known for her role as Lane Ballou in the 1980s soap opera, Flamingo Road
John Curtis Raines (1933-2017), American religion professor, activist, and member of the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI
Howell Hiram Raines (b. 1943), American journalist, Executive Editor of The New York Times from 2001 to 2003
Franklin Delano "Frank" Raines (b. 1949), American business executive, 31st Director of the Office of Management and Budget (1996-1998)
Floyd Anthony "Tony" Raines (b. 1964), American stock car racing driver
Virgil W. "Buddy" Raines (1911-2000), American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer
John Raines (1840-1909), American lawyer and politician, Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York (1906), authored Raines Law (1896)
Ella Raines (1920-1988), born Ella Wallace Raubes, American Golden Boot Award winning actress
Ron Raines (b. 1949), American three-time Daytime Emmy Award and Soap Opera Award nominated actor, best known for the role of Alan Spaulding on the soap opera Guiding Light
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Raines family +

USS Indianapolis

Clifford Junior Raines, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 13

The Raines 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/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew