Surname Rentfro - Meaning and Origin

Rentfro: What does the surname Rentfro mean?

Rentfro is a surname of English and possibly also of German origin. In English, it is thought to have derived from the Old English personal name "Rædwine", made up of the elements "ræd", meaning counsel, and "wine", meaning friend. Over the centuries it underwent various modifications in spelling, such as Redfearn, Redfern, Radfearn, and so on. It seems that in some U.S cases it became Rentfro.

However, there are indications it could also be an anglicized form of the German surname "Rentfrow", “Rentfroh” or "Renthfroh". These surnames could have been from the Middle High German phrase "Rente fro" meaning 'glad for income', possibly a nickname for a successful farmer or tenant.

It's also possible that multiple origins combined to give the modern form Rentfro. Similarly to many surnames, without a specific genealogical linkage, true origins can be hard to specify due to migration, translation, and phonetic influences over time.

Rentfro: Where does the name Rentfro come from?

The Rentfro surname is typically of German origin and there are several variants of the name. Today, Rentfro is a relatively uncommon surname, but it is in use in several countries around the world. In the United States, the surname Rentfro is most commonly found in Ohio, yet it can also be found in the states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Georgia. Another large concentration of the surname Rentfro is found in Brazil, where several thousand individuals are found with the Rentfro name. It is also quite common in Mexico, where nearly two thousand individuals can be found. Outside of the Americas, the Rentfro name can still be found in many European countries, most especially in Germany, where it is the country's 307th most frequently used surname. Other countries include the Netherlands, France, and Spain, with a few hundred individuals found in each country. Overall, the Rentfro surname is still found today, although it is much less common than it was in past centuries.

Variations of the surname Rentfro

Rentfro is a surname of German and British origin. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Rentfro include Rentfrow, Renteau, Renefrow, Renfrew, Renfroe, Renfree, Ranfrow, Ranfro, Renfro, Rentfroe, Rentfrowe, Rendfrow, Rentfroy, Rentfree, and Rentfry.

The surname Rentfro is likely derived from the Germanic personal name Renfrid which is a combination of two elements, "ragin", meaning counsel, and "frithu", meaning peace. This name was popular in Northern Europe and was later Anglicised in Britain.

Renting and Renteau are also variants of Rentfro. These are French forms of the name Renfrew which also likely evolved from Renfrid. The Renteau surname is specifically traced to Picardy and Northern France originated from individuals who had moved to those regions from Northwestern Europe.

Meanwhile, Renfree and Renfry are English variants of Rentfro and descended from individuals with the surname Rentfro who emigrated to England in the 16th and 17th centuries. Renfree and Renfry are most commonly found in England and in the United States.

In the United States, the surname Rentfro is most likely of German origin and its spelling variants include Ranfro, Ranford, and Ranfrow. Meanwhile, in Australia, the spelling variation Rendfrow is also found.

Famous people with the name Rentfro

• Mark Rentfro: an American voice actor who has done work for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney.
• Robert Rentfro: an American jazz musician and composer.
• Lacey Rentfro: an American country music singer.
• Danielle Rentfro: a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA and international leagues.
• Paul Rentfro: a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox for three seasons.
• John Rentfro: an American strongman competitor and professional bodybuilder.
• Karyl Rentfro: an American actress and dancer who starred in the 1993 feature film Camp Nowhere.
• Linda Rentfro: a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who is an internationally recognized expert on psychodynamic approaches to the treatment of bipolar disorder.
• Steven Rentfro: a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter and musician from Tennessee.
• Jennifer Rentfro: an American actress known for her work on That 70s Show, Desperate Housewives, and other television and film roles.

Other surnames

Rentfinski