Surname Reinshaw - Meaning and Origin
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Reinshaw: What does the surname Reinshaw mean?
The last name Reinshaw is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a place name. The surname is first recorded in the 12th century and is believed to be associated with a town in Cheshire named Rainesha, which is derived from the Old English phrase hraefn-sceaga, meaning "net thicket". This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was either a denizen of that area, or a person who had acquired the name from that location.
Surnames that originate from place names generally indicate a hereditary connection between members of the same family group, and those who bear the name Reinshaw are likely to be related to one another. It is also likely that the name originates from a location near a waterway of the same name, such as a river or stream, as well as Rainesha.
The surname Reinshaw is relatively rare in comparison to other surnames. It is believed that the name was commonly used in Cheshire, England, during the Middle Ages and early modern period, but as of today there are no longer many who bear this surname. Today, the Reinshaw family line might still exist in Cheshire, though members of the family might be descended from emigrants to other parts of the English-speaking world or beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisReinshaw: Where does the name Reinshaw come from?
The last name Reinshaw is an Anglo-Saxon surname still found widely in England, Scotland, and the United States. It is derived from the Old Norse name Rein-skeggr which means “he who wears a long beard”. The name can also be found spelled Raynsay, Raynsaw, Reinshough, Reynshaw, and Reenshaugh.
In England, the last name Reinshaw is concentrated in the region of Yorkshire, especially in areas like Hull, Leeds, and York. It is also common in the cities of Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield.
In Scotland, the name is common in the Borders region and the lowlands around Edinburgh. In the US, it is more widely distributed, but the highest concentrations are in Ohio, Virginia, and New York.
Reinshaw is a topographical surname, meaning it was used to describe people based on their physical location. It is thought to have derived from Ramsey, a place name in West Yorkshire located in England, near the village of Dewsbury.
Today, Reinshaw is one of the 300 most common last names in the United Kingdom, and the 1,000th most common in the United States. It is also one of the most ancient surnames, dating back to the 11th century where it often referred to landowners and chieftains in the north of England.
Variations of the surname Reinshaw
The surname Reinshaw is of English and Scottish origin and is derived from the Old English term “rægn” meaning rein, or the Middle English term “rayne” meaning rush. The surname is known to have multiple spellings and variants. The most common spelling is Reinshaw, along with Reinishaw, Rayneshaw, Reinishawe, Reinshau, Reinshawe, Raynishaw, Ryinshaw, and Ryalshaw.
Reinshaw can sometimes also appear as the surnames Raynish and Raines, this is due to various historical phonetic changes. The variant Raines is most common in the United States, whilst Raynish is found more commonly in England and Scotland.
Additionally, some similar surnames include Reinsh, Reines, Rayns, Rayne, Raynesh, and Reine. Historical documents have shown some surname holders to have changed the spelling of their surname to reflect the form of their own name at the time.
The earliest historical recording of the Reinshaw name was in the Cambridgeshire region of England in the 16th century on the parish records of St. Michael in Cambridge, where the marriage of William Reinshaw and Agnes Bullock in 1586 was recorded. The same names can also be found in a variety of documents from the 18th and 19th centuries throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in the United States, followed by England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Overall, the surname Reinshaw is thought to be a variant of the Old English term, originating from the north of England and later spread around the world. Multiple variants and spellings of the name have evolved over time, each with its own unique history and significance.
Famous people with the name Reinshaw
- Trevor Reinshaw: English TV presenter and actor best known for presenting the TV show Homes Under the Hammer on BBC One.
- Darren Reinshaw: American professional basketball player who plays for the Washington Wizards in the NBA.
- Dan Reinshaw: English 183 cm tall defender who currently plays for Walsall FC.
- Ivor Reinshaw: Former Australian soccer player in the 1970s.
- Matthew Reinshaw: Professional American stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
- Luke Reinshaw: Super Middleweight boxer from the UK.
- Terry Reinshaw: Former British professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Roger Reinshaw: British author and lecturer who specializes in historical non-fiction.
- Grace Reinshaw: Head of the Marine Conservation Institute and climate change activist.
- Clint Reinshaw: Retired professional golfer from New Zealand who played on the Australasian and European tours.