Rinaldo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Rinaldo was first found in Florence (Italian: Firenze), originally the capital of Tuscany, then capital of the kingdom of Italy. On the River Arno there are numerous Florentine Churches, Museums, Galleries. It dates back to 313 A.D. The history is complex and turbulent. The de' Medici family are the notables. They were expelled in 1494 but they returned in 1512, out in 1527 and then returned. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry. The name is so widespread that it is very likely that there were originally several families that took this name without knowing of the others' existence; it is unlikely that all the bearers of the Rinaldo name in the world today share a common ancestor. The name is the Italian equivalent to the English name Reynold, which originated from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "ragin," meaning "counsel" and "wald," meaning "rule."