NameCensus.

UK surname

Rennick

An English surname derived from a placename meaning "from the rye fields".

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Rennick surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, up from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Old Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Whitecraigs and Broom and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rennick is 147 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.7%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2016

147 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rennick had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rennick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rennick surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rennick 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 128 #23,890
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Rennicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Old Monkland, Dalton-le-Dale and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Whitecraigs and Broom, Calderdale, Barnet and Hackney. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Old Monkland Lanark
4 Dalton-le-Dale Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 012 Caerphilly
2 Whitecraigs and Broom East Renfrewshire
3 Calderdale 017 Calderdale
4 Barnet 012 Barnet
5 Hackney 014 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rennick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rennick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rennick, 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 Rennick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rennick 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, Rennick 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

Rennick is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rennick falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rennick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rennick

The surname Rennick is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "rennaich," which means "to divide" or "to share." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was responsible for dividing or allocating land or resources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rennick can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century. These rolls were records of financial transactions and taxes paid to the Scottish Crown. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Rennick," "Rennyk," and "Rennock."

In the 15th century, a Thomas Rennick was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of instruments of homage and fealty made to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. This suggests that the Rennick family held a position of importance and owned land in Scotland during this time.

The name Rennick is also associated with the Scottish Borders region, particularly the area around the town of Jedburgh. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name or a geographical feature in this area, as was common with many Scottish surnames.

One notable bearer of the Rennick surname was William Rennick (c. 1570-1640), a Scottish minister and academic who served as the principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1620 to 1640. He was instrumental in the development of the university's curriculum and played a significant role in the intellectual life of Scotland during the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure with the Rennick surname was John Rennick (1784-1861), a Scottish-born civil engineer who emigrated to the United States. He was instrumental in the construction of several major canals and transportation projects in the eastern United States, including the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Union Canal.

In the 19th century, the Rennick surname spread to other parts of the world as Scottish emigrants and settlers dispersed. For example, William Rennick (1823-1899) was a Scottish-born farmer and politician who served as a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1879 to 1890.

Other notable individuals with the Rennick surname include Robert Rennick (1865-1937), a Scottish-born architect who designed several prominent buildings in South Africa, and James Rennick (1896-1972), a Canadian athlete who competed in the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rennick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rennick 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. Lancashire leads with 12 Rennicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 12 1.99x
Cumberland 9 20.61x
Durham 7 4.64x
Middlesex 6 1.18x
Hampshire 4 3.85x
Kent 4 2.31x
Brecknockshire 3 29.59x
Lanarkshire 2 1.22x
Surrey 2 0.81x
Warwickshire 1 0.78x
Worcestershire 1 1.51x
Yorkshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Embleton in Cumberland leads with 9 Rennicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 15000.00x.

Place Total Index
Embleton 9 15000.00x
Everton 7 36.50x
Sunderland 7 263.16x
St George In East 4 115.94x
Vaynor 3 600.00x
Ventnor 3 303.03x
Barony 2 4.82x
Warrington 2 28.05x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 10.46x
Croydon 1 7.29x
Egham 1 65.79x
Greenwich 1 12.39x
Islington London 1 2.03x
Kingsnorth 1 909.09x
Leamington Priors 1 31.75x
Liverpool 1 2.74x
Maidstone 1 19.42x
Moss Side 1 31.55x
Portsea 1 4.91x
St Marylebone London 1 3.69x
Strood 1 101.01x
Worcester St Martin 1 112.36x
York St Mary Castlegate 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Isabella 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Jane 1
Josephine 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 5
William 4
John 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Charles 1
Francis 1
George 1
James 1
Laub 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

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 Rennick households.

FAQ

Rennick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rennick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Rennick surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rennick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Rennick a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Rennick surname mean?

An English surname derived from a placename meaning "from the rye fields".

What does the Rennick map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rennick 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.