Surname Rennen - Meaning and Origin
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Rennen: What does the surname Rennen mean?
The last name Rennen is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German personal name Rein Kaufmann, meaning "pure merchant". In modern German, the name is spelled Rennen, which can mean both "a run" or "to gallop".
The surname Rennen is thought to have first appeared in Germany's Rhineland region in the 15th century. In the early 1400s, people with this surname moved to Gansu Province in China, where they became merchants and traders. From there, the name spread elsewhere and today it is common in North America, especially in the United States, where around 8,200 people share the name.
People with the surname Rennen are likely to be descents of the region where their family originated from. Like most German last names, the name likely reflected an ancestor's occupation or something special about them. The meaning of the surname itself implies a swift, active person, and it's likely that the original bearers of the name enjoyed a role of some responsibility in their community.
Today, people with the last name Rennen are likely to be found in many fields, ranging from entrepreneurs to musicians and artists. They are likely to share the same determination as their ancestors, and to be following their dreams with passion and vitality.
Order DNA origin analysisRennen: Where does the name Rennen come from?
The last name Rennen is commonly found in areas of Germany, particularly in the North and Central regions of the country. It is also present in Austria and Switzerland, as well as some parts of Belgium. The name is also found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
The origin of the name is likely linked to the German word "rennen," which means "to run." The surname was likely derived from a family that resided near a running stream or river or that were expert horsemen or couriers.
The surname may also have been an occupational name, derived from the occupation of a renner, which was a messenger or courier that spoke several languages and served noble patrons.
In the early records of the name, Rennen was frequently misspelled, with variations such as Rennen, Renne, Rennin, Renning, Rening, and others. This may have been intentional, as it allowed families of the same original name to avoid dealing with one another.
Today, the name Rennen remains a popular surname in Germany and the surrounding countries. It is also found in the United States, with some Rennen families having resided in the country for centuries.
Variations of the surname Rennen
The surname Rennen is thought to have been derived from the middle high German word runnen, meaning to run or to flow. It likely originated as an occupational name for a river keeper, someone who regulated the flow of a river or stream, or as a nickname for an energetic or swift person.
Variants of the surname include Renne, Renn, Renns, Rennes, Rennel, Rennell, Renell, and Renello. Spellings of the surname include Rennin, Rennon, and Rennen. Common surnames that are thought to have derived from Rennen include Rainey, Reany, Renney, Raney, and Rene.
In Germany, the name is typically spelt with one n, while in the Netherlands and France, two n's are commonly seen. In the United States, the surname is often seen spelled with two n's and is often pronounced RAIN-y or RENE-y.
In some instances, the surname Rennen can be seen as a Jewish surname, denoting descent from a family originally from Germany, or from a family that was expelled from Spain or Portugal in the 15th or 16th centuries during the Inquisition. In other cases, it can refer to a family originally from the Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Norway or Sweden, although the exact origin is still unknown.
In summary, the surname Rennen is derived from the middle high German word runnen and can have various spellings and variant forms, such as Renne, Renn, Renns, Rennes, Rainey, Reany, Renney, Raney, and Rene. It can also appear to be a Jewish surname, and is thought to possibly designate descent from a family of German or Scandinavian origin.
Famous people with the name Rennen
- François René De Chateaubriand, French writer
- Jake Rennen, American YouTube star
- Wolfgang Rennen, Dutch footballer
- Dirk Rennen, Dutch politician
- Vaslav Nijinsky, Russian dancer and choreographer
- Sheonna Rennen, Canadian poet
- Inge Rennen, German physicist
- Robin Rennen, Belgian actor
- Peggy Rennen, Canadian sports coach
- Ulli Rennen, German tennis player