UK surname
A surname derived from a place name meaning "the meadow by the stream."
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Raynolds surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, St Leonard Shoreditch and Keinton Mansfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raynolds is 876 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.9%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
876 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Raynolds surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Raynolds surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 249 | #8,816 |
| 1861 | historical | 876 | #3,170 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 494 | #7,504 |
| 1901 | historical | 262 | #12,740 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, St Leonard Shoreditch, Keinton Mansfield, Manchester and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Keinton Mansfield | Somerset |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Raynolds surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Raynolds, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Raynolds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Raynolds household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Raynolds is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raynolds is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Raynolds, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Raynolds is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "regen" meaning "rain" and "wald" meaning "rule" or "power." It initially emerged in the region of Yorkshire, England, during the 12th century. The name was likely bestowed upon someone who exerted influence or authority over a particular area, possibly with a connection to weather patterns or agricultural activities.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Raynolds can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1176, where it appears as "Reginald de Raynaldvilla." This entry suggests a connection to a place name, possibly a village or estate associated with the family.
In the 13th century, the name was documented in various forms, including Raynaldus, Reynold, and Reynalde, reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. During this period, the name Raynolds appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Raynolds. However, it does mention individuals with the given name Reginald, which may have been the progenitor of the surname in later generations.
Noteworthy individuals bearing the surname Raynolds throughout history include:
1. Sir John Raynolds (c. 1504 - 1563), an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Queen Mary I. 2. John Raynolds (1549 - 1607), an English scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the translation of the King James Bible. 3. William Raynolds (1545 - 1594), an English Jesuit priest and author, known for his work "A Treatise Concerning the Defence of the Lawful Power and Primacy of the Pope." 4. Robert Raynolds (1599 - 1676), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 5. Joshua Raynolds (1687 - 1743), an English painter and portraitist, known for his works depicting members of the British aristocracy.
The surname Raynolds has also been associated with various place names, such as Reynoldston in Gower, Wales, and Reynoldsburg, Ohio in the United States, further highlighting its historical significance and geographical spread.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raynolds surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 15 Raynolds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 15 | 13.89x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.28x |
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 5.81x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 9.89x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.42x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.60x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 3.27x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.08x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.65x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.43x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 3.08x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.36x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.48x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.95x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.17x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Igborough in Norfolk leads with 9 Raynolds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Igborough | 9 | 22500.00x |
| N Lydbury | 6 | 2500.00x |
| Hatherleigh | 5 | 1388.89x |
| Bristol Temple | 4 | 439.56x |
| Congham | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Dymock | 4 | 1212.12x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 4 | 37.28x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 19.42x |
| Handsworth | 3 | 163.04x |
| Keinton Mandeville | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Dyce | 2 | 714.29x |
| Keswick | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Salford | 2 | 8.16x |
| Abbotts Ann | 1 | 625.00x |
| Auckland St Andrew | 1 | 181.82x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.69x |
| Farnham Royal | 1 | 400.00x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.78x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 9.06x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.54x |
| Hamilton | 1 | 15.80x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 5.78x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.56x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.98x |
| Otley | 1 | 666.67x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.87x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.54x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.99x |
| Southampton St Michael | 1 | 212.77x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 10.91x |
| St Mary Aldermary | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Warrington | 1 | 10.12x |
| Whitwick | 1 | 101.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Raynolds surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Raynolds surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Raynolds households.
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Raynolds surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Raynolds a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname derived from a place name meaning "the meadow by the stream."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Raynolds bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.