Rainton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Rainton family

The surname Rainton was first found in Berwickshire at Renton, in the parish of Coldingham. "The Rentons of Renton were hereditary foresters of Coldingham in the reign of William the Lion, and Ricardus forestarius appears in record as Ricardus de Reningtona. In the fourteenth century the Rentons were an influential family of burgesses in Berwick. During the fifteenth century the family terminated in the direct line in a daughter who married Ellem of Ellemsford. Robert de Rentun witnessed a charter by Herbert, abbot of Kelso, c. 1225. Symon of Rennyngton, burgess of Jedburgh, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 197). John de Raynton who had a charter of lands of Over Lamberton in 1323 is probably the John de Rainton (Rayntoun, or Rayneton) who was burgess and customar of Berwick in 1325 and following years and c. 1332 received a charter of lands in Kirckambirton." 1

In southern England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Mathew de Renedon, or Reneton, Devon; and Robert de Reyndon, Warwickshire. 2

But in Yorkshire, England, the variants Render and Rinder "still exist in Yorkshire, where it is found five centuries ago." 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include entries for Willelmui Rendrour; Johannes Rendrour; Matilda Rendurer; and Johannes Rendour as all having lands there at that time. In this case, the name "is derived from an occupation. or official, 'the Tenderer,' one who paid rent, one who held by an annual payment." 2

Early History of the Rainton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rainton research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1235, 1296, 1330, 1429, 1431, 1464, 1473, 1479, 1500, 1548, 1557, 1561, 1569, 1590, 1634, 1646, 1667 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Rainton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rainton Spelling Variations

The name, Rainton, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Renton, Wrenton, Rentin, Renten, Wrenten, Wrentin and others.

Early Notables of the Rainton family

Sir Nicholas Rainton (1569-1646), English politician, Lord Mayor of London, President of St...
Bartholomew's Hospital in 1634, third son of Robert Rainton...

Rainton migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Rainton surname who came to North America were:

Rainton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jane Rainton, aged 30, who landed in New England in 1635 3
Rec Rainton, aged 36, who arrived in New England in 1635 3

Rainton 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:

Rainton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. C. Rainton, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 4
Mrs. Rainton, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 4

The Rainton 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: Trust in God and not in strength

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html