UK surname
A locative surname derived from a place name referring to someone from the town of Renison.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Renison surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Louth, Kirkby Stephen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Renison is 113 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.4%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1891
113 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Renison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Renison surname density by area, 1881 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 76 | #24,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 48 | #33,932 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Louth, Kirkby Stephen, Govan Combination, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. 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 | Louth | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Kirkby Stephen | Westmorland |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Renison 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 Renison, 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 Renison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Renison 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, Renison 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 Renison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Renison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Renison is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "renard," meaning fox, and was likely an occupational name for someone who worked with foxes or hunted them.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various English records from the 13th and 14th centuries, with variations in spelling such as Renasson, Renisson, and Rennison. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Renasson, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. One notable mention is that of John Renison, who was a servant of Sir John Fastolf, a prominent English knight and landowner.
During the 16th century, the name Renison began to appear in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. One notable bearer of the name from this period was William Renison, who was born in Lincolnshire in 1534 and served as a member of the clergy.
In the 17th century, the name gained some prominence with the birth of John Renison (1625-1687), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Balliol College, Oxford. Another notable figure was Robert Renison (1650-1709), a merchant and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who made significant contributions to the city of Hull.
The 18th century saw the birth of James Renison (1742-1820), a successful merchant and banker from London. He was instrumental in establishing the Renison Banking Company, which played a significant role in the financial affairs of the city.
As the name spread across England, it also made its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to various parts of the world through migration and colonization. Some notable bearers of the name in later centuries include Sir William Renison (1841-1918), a British diplomat and colonial administrator who served in India, and John Renison (1873-1945), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Hamilton, Ontario.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Renison 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. Lanarkshire leads with 19 Renisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 19 | 5.79x |
| Durham | 17 | 5.63x |
| Lincolnshire | 16 | 9.87x |
| Kent | 10 | 2.89x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.83x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 3.85x |
| Westmorland | 7 | 31.40x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.70x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 3.98x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 2.29x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Renisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.79x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 12 | 14.79x |
| Liverpool | 10 | 13.68x |
| Southampton St Mary | 8 | 61.21x |
| Whitworth | 8 | 361.99x |
| Folkestone | 7 | 104.32x |
| Kirkby Stephen | 7 | 1206.90x |
| Chollerton | 6 | 1428.57x |
| Louth | 6 | 161.29x |
| Maryhill | 6 | 93.46x |
| Birtley | 5 | 406.50x |
| Barton St Peter | 4 | 540.54x |
| Great Grimsby | 4 | 38.87x |
| Ovenden | 3 | 67.11x |
| Chatham | 2 | 21.01x |
| Farlam | 2 | 363.64x |
| Morley | 2 | 38.24x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.20x |
| Chilton | 1 | 106.38x |
| Darlington | 1 | 8.58x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 7.65x |
| Hornsea | 1 | 156.25x |
| Hutton Henry | 1 | 156.25x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.02x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 123.46x |
| St Nicholas Lincoln | 1 | 64.52x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.22x |
| Swanscombe | 1 | 64.52x |
| Wainfleet St Mary | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Renison 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 Renison 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 Renison households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Renison surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Renison a modern rank of #35,648.
A locative surname derived from a place name referring to someone from the town of Renison.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Renison 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.