Surname Renfree - Meaning and Origin
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Renfree: What does the surname Renfree mean?
The surname Renfree is of Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from Cornwall, on England's southwestern tip. Its derivation sources relate it to a patronymic name, meaning it would typically be formed by adding '-son' or '-free' to a personal name. In this case, the personal name was Renn or Wren, so Renfree signifies 'son of Renn' or 'son of Wren.' These personal names might have originally been nicknames, with Renn meaning 'raven' and Wren being a type of bird. Hence, Renfree could also indirectly imply 'son of the raven' or 'son of the wren,' highlighting a characteristic (physical or otherwise) of the person who initially adopted this surname. The variation in spelling over time explains its various existing forms: Ranfree, Renfrey, Ryanfry, and others. It is important to note that the accurate interpretation of a surname's meaning can be challenging due to language evolution, multiple derivations, and regional differences.
Order DNA origin analysisRenfree: Where does the name Renfree come from?
The last name Renfree is primarily found in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. It is likely of English origin, though some people believe that it could be derived from the French surname Rinfret.
In England, it is most commonly found in the East and South East of the country, particularly in East Anglia. In Scotland, Renfree is mostly concentrated in the region of Aberdeenshire. Ireland’s population with this surname is mainly located in the province of Ulster.
In Australia, the surname Renfree is spread throughout the States of NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. In the US, the surname is also distributed widely, with pockets in the states of California, Missouri, Washington, and Kentucky.
Overall, Renfree is a relatively uncommon surname with no significant concentrations in any one region. This suggests that people with the surname Renfree were relatively nomadic, or had a mixed origin of fathers and mothers from multiple countries.
Variations of the surname Renfree
The surname Renfree has a number of variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of the name include Renfrew, Renfre, Renfew, Ranfroe, Ranfrew, Ranfre and Ranfew.
These variations vary between different countries and regions. For instance, in British Isles, the most commonly used variant is Renfrew. Whereas in the Netherlands and France, the most common variants are Renfre and Renfew.
In Scotland, the longest variants of the surname are Ranfroe and Ranfrew. These variations developed due to Gaelic influences on the original spelling of the surname.
In the United States, Renfree, Ranfroe, Ranfrew, Ranfre and Ranfew are the most popular variants of the surname. These variants are mostly descendants of immigrants from the British Isles who arrived in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The surname Renfree has a number of other variations, including Rennfrew, Rennfre, Rennfree, Rennfroe, Rennfrow and Renfreee.
Overall, it is clear that the surname Renfree has a number of variants and spellings that vary between countries and regions. Thus, it is important to be aware of the variants of the surname as they are useful for tracing one's ancestry.
Famous people with the name Renfree
- Carson Renfree: Singer and songwriter from Philadelphia.
- Joe Renfree: American basketball player.
- Kevin Renfree: Comedian and actor from Los Angeles, California.
- Sean Renfree: American former football quarterback.
- Chaunte Renfree: Professional soccer player from Atlanta, Georgia.
- Hannah Renfree: Singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
- Lee Renfree: British racing driver from Wigan, England.
- Derek Renfree: American former professional baseball pitcher.
- Eric Renfree: Actor and model from Sacramento, California.
- Max Renfree: Professional mountain biker from Vancouver, British Columbia.