Surname Renfrow - Meaning and Origin
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Renfrow: What does the surname Renfrow mean?
The surname Renfrow is of English origin and is believed to have geographical roots. It is thought to have been derived from Rainford, a village in England. Rainford itself comes from the Old English words "regen" meaning "fern" and "ford", denoting "a river crossing." Over time and through migrations and language changes, Rainford may have been adapted to the more phonetically spelled Renfrow. Some theories suggest it could be a habitational name for a person who lived by a fern-covered ford. However, like many surnames, the exact origins and meaning can vary and may have evolved differently in different families or regions. Nonetheless, Renfrow remains a unique and historically rich surname with roots in English culture.
Order DNA origin analysisRenfrow: Where does the name Renfrow come from?
The last name Renfrow is most commonly found in the southeastern United States. In the United States, Renfrow is found in the highest concentration in North Carolina with the next highest concentrations in Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina.
According to the website Forebears, which aggregates the data from the US Census, approximately 4,545 people had the Renfrow surname in the United States in 2020.
When you look at the results of the 2000 US Census, it's easy to see that Renfrow is as much of a Southern name as is possible. The Top 5 States that are home to the most people with the surname Renfrow in the country are concentrated in the South: North Carolina (2,231), Virginia (740), Georgia (326), South Carolina (274) and Tennessee (180).
Renfrow can be traced back to Scotland, but now most of the instances of this surname can be found in the southern states of the US, most notably in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The Renfrow family is quite extensive in the United States with many branches throughout the South. The name was originally used as a patronymic name, based on the first name of the father. This was done so people born in certain families and localities were more easily identified.
The surname Renfrow has been more popular in the South and will continue to remain so as long as more people choose to live in the area. It is, however, gaining favor in other parts of the United States as well, as more people move away from their family's traditional home and into different parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Renfrow
The surname Renfrow has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these are Renfro, Rhenfrow, Renfroe, Renfru, Renfroob, and Rhenfrowe. Although not quite as common, some variations include Renfrowe, Renfrew, Renfray, Rinfrow, Rinfru, Rentfrow, Rhenford, Rhenfre, Rainfru, and Ranfro.
Most likely, the name Renfrow is derived from the Old French "Renfr stand," which translates to mean "plucky" or "strong" in English. During the Middle Ages, when many families began to adopt surnames such as Renfrow, it was customary to take on the original family's name or location's name. So it is possible that the Renfrow's originally came from a place called Renfrow, though this is not certain.
It is also possible that the name Renfrow is an Americanized version of the German surname Rhenfelder, which can be translated as "Rheinfield," meaning Rhine Field.
Variations of Renfrow have been documented in the British Isles for centuries, but the surname is much more common in the United States. Records show that the first Renfrow in the States were German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania as early as the 1720s. Over the years, the Renfrow family has spread, taking root in various states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Overall, it is relatively easy to trace the different your variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin when it comes to the last name Renfrow. Many of these are still commonly used and recognized today, making for interesting searches into one’s family history.
Famous people with the name Renfrow
- Hunter Renfrow: former NFL wide receiver
- Leon Renfrow: NFL linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ashton Renfrow: Actor for the TV series Riverdale
- Caroline Renfrow: Actress who has appeared in over 15 films and TV series, including Deadwood and This Is Us
- J.J. Renfrow: Singer and songwriter
- Greg Renfrow: NFL offensive lineman for teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins
- Bill Renfrow: Former baseball pitcher and coach for the Boston Red Sox
- Clifford Renfrow: Former NFL defensive lineman
- Diane Renfrow: Author and owner of Renfrow Publishing
- Paul Renfrow: Professional golfer and PGA/PGA Tour champion