Rigny History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of RignyWhat does the name Rigny mean? The ancient Scottish name Rigny was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The original bearer of the name lived in De Reiney, or Rigny, in Champagne, France. "Hagebert de Rigneio, in 1101, witnessed a charter of the Bishop of Tulle, and may have been the same that possessed lands in Essex in 1086 1 Roger de Reigny witnessed a charter of Bishop Roger of Sarum, temp. Hen. I., and Robert de Reigny held five fees in Devon in 1165." 2 Newton-Reigny, in the Forest of Inglewood, was their seat in Cumberland. 3 Early Origins of the Rigny familyThe surname Rigny was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire. "The Ranys or Rennys were extensive owners of land in the district of Craig in Angus from the middle of the fifteenth century, and the Rennies of Usan were recognized as an old family. Symon Renny was bailie of Inverkeithing in 1362. John Rayny, pelliparius, was burgess of Stirling in 1436." 4 Early History of the Rigny familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rigny research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1402, 1409, 1526, 1572, 1592, 1798 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rigny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rigny Spelling VariationsSpelling and translation were hardly exact sciences in Medieval Scotland. Sound, rather than any set of rules, was the basis for spellings, so one name was often spelled different ways even within a single document. Spelling variations are thus an extremely common occurrence in Medieval Scottish names. Rigny has been spelled Rayney, Rainy, Rainey, Rainnie, Rennie, Renny and many more. Early Notables of the Rigny familyMore information is included under the topic Early Rigny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Rigny family to IrelandSome of the Rigny family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Rigny familySuch hard times forced many to leave their homeland in search of opportunity across the Atlantic. Many of these families settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. The ancestors of many of these families have rediscovered their roots in the 20th century through the establishment of Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Among them: Luke Rainy who settled in Virginia in 1679; Johnston Rainey who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1763; followed by James Rainey in 1767.
|