NameCensus.

UK surname

Renn

A toponymic surname derived from places named Renn or Renne, likely referring to a waterway or watercourse.

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Renn surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, up from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chesterton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham, Redbridge and Brentwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Renn is 205 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 184.6%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

2000

205 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Renn had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 155 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Renn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Renn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Renn surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Renn over time

The 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 155 #17,920
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 197 #18,400
2000 modern 205 #17,940
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 173 #20,465
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 192 #19,797
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Renns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chesterton, London parishes, St Pancras, Hanwell and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham, Redbridge, Brentwood and Windsor and Maidenhead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Chesterton Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Hanwell Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 013 Cheltenham
2 Redbridge 007 Redbridge
3 Brentwood 008 Brentwood
4 Redbridge 001 Redbridge
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 012 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Renn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Renn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Renn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Renn, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Renn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Renn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Renn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Renn is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Renn falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Renn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Renn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Renn

The surname RENN has its origins in Germany, and can be traced back to the late medieval period, around the 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old German word "rinne," meaning a small stream or a watercourse. The surname was likely adopted by individuals who lived near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RENN can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, dating back to 1327. The entry refers to a certain "Hans Renn," who was a merchant dealing in textiles. Another early reference is a mention of a "Peter Renn" in the records of the town of Augsburg from the year 1412.

In the 15th century, there are records of a family called RENN residing in the village of Rennhausen, located in the region of Franconia, in present-day Bavaria. It is possible that the village's name was derived from the surname, or vice versa, as it was common practice for families to adopt their surnames from the places they inhabited.

One notable bearer of the name RENN was Johannes Renn, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1561 to 1638. He made significant contributions to the development of logarithms and was a contemporary of Johannes Kepler.

Another individual of note was Christoph Renn, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1615 to 1688. He is known for his religious paintings and engravings, many of which can be found in churches and museums across Germany.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname RENN was Johann Michael Renn, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1713 to 1786. He was a professor at the University of Göttingen and authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

The surname RENN also has a presence in other parts of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland, where it is believed to have been introduced by German settlers or migrants. In these regions, the name may have evolved into slightly different spellings, such as "Renn" or "Renne."

Despite its German origins, the name RENN has been carried by individuals of various nationalities and backgrounds throughout history, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped the modern world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Renn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Renn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 29 Renns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 4.51x
Oxfordshire 9 22.65x
Berkshire 7 14.49x
Hampshire 6 4.55x
Lanarkshire 5 2.40x
Essex 3 2.36x
Lancashire 2 0.26x
Midlothian 1 1.16x
Montgomeryshire 1 6.78x
Royal Navy 1 13.04x
Surrey 1 0.32x
Wiltshire 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clewer in Berkshire leads with 7 Renns recorded in 1881 and an index of 353.54x.

Place Total Index
Clewer 7 353.54x
St Pancras London 7 13.51x
Chelsea London 6 30.94x
Islington London 6 9.62x
Barony 5 9.49x
Chesterton 5 7142.86x
Hanwell 4 350.88x
Chelmsford 3 137.61x
Limehouse London 3 42.43x
Middleton Stoney 3 5000.00x
Owslebury 3 1578.95x
Portsea 2 7.74x
Salford 2 8.90x
St Marylebone London 2 5.82x
Bicester Market End 1 136.99x
Frimley 1 112.36x
Great Somerford 1 833.33x
Pool 1 90.09x
Queensferry 1 1111.11x
Royal Navy 1 15.24x
South Warnborough 1 1428.57x
St George Hanover 1 11.90x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Renn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charlotte 2
Georgiana 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizabth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Georgina 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Liza 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Rose 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Renn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 7
John 4
Edward 3
George 3
Samuel 3
James 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Christoper 1
Edmund 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Renn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Renn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Renn surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Renn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Renn a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Renn surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from places named Renn or Renne, likely referring to a waterway or watercourse.

What does the Renn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Renn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.