NameCensus.

UK surname

Renny

A variant of the French surname Regnaud, derived from the given name Reinald or Reinold.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Renny surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Kirkden and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Swale and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Renny is 374 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.8%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1891

374 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Renny had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 374 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Renny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Renny surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Renny 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 277 #8,112
1861 historical 328 #7,771
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 162 #20,107
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 173 #19,851
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Rennys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Kirkden, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Kinnell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Swale, North Devon, Scarborough and Croydon. 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 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Kirkden Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Kinnell Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 010 Arun
2 Swale 017 Swale
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 Scarborough 009 Scarborough
5 Croydon 008 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Renny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Renny

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Renny surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Renny household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Renny is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Renny is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Renny falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Renny 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Renny

The surname Renny is believed to have originated in Scotland, primarily during the medieval period. It is most commonly associated with the regions of Galloway and Ayrshire. The name is thought to have derived from the Old Norse word "hrafn," meaning raven, which was later anglicized over the centuries. Similar spellings such as Rannie and Rainy have also been recorded in historical documents, contributing to the variations seen today.

The earliest documented references to the surname Renny can be traced back to Scottish records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest instances is a mention of a John Renny in 1350, appearing in local court documents in Ayrshire. Another early reference is found in a 15th-century manuscript, which lists a William Renny as a landowner in Galloway.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Renny have made notable contributions. Sir William Renny, born in 1521 and passed in 1588, was known for his role as a border warden during the tense periods between Scotland and England. Alexander Renny, born in 1647 and passed in 1712, was a prominent Scottish merchant who played a significant role in the trade between Scotland and the Low Countries.

The name also appears in historical military records. Colonel John Renny, born in 1764 and died in 1810, fought in several key battles during the Napoleonic Wars and was esteemed for his leadership. Another significant figure is Dr. Edward Renny, who was born in 1801 and passed in 1875. He was a pioneering figure in the field of medicine in Edinburgh, contributing to several medical journals of his time.

One of the more famous bearers of the surname in modern history is John Renny, an engineering marvel born in 1761 and who passed away in 1821. He was well known for his work as a civil engineer, particularly for the construction of London's Waterloo Bridge and Southwark Bridge, establishing him as a key figure in the world of engineering.

The Renny surname thus carries a rich and varied history, intertwined with Scottish heritage and significant contributions to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Renny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Renny 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. Angus leads with 59 Rennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.65x.

County Total Index
Angus 59 23.65x
Middlesex 34 1.26x
Durham 25 3.12x
Lancashire 16 0.50x
Devon 12 2.14x
Kincardineshire 9 27.45x
Monmouthshire 9 4.62x
Glamorgan 8 1.71x
Hampshire 8 1.45x
Lanarkshire 8 0.92x
Midlothian 8 2.22x
Perthshire 8 6.62x
Yorkshire 8 0.30x
Northumberland 7 1.75x
Bedfordshire 6 4.30x
Cumberland 6 2.59x
Fife 6 3.76x
Norfolk 6 1.45x
Essex 4 0.75x
Leicestershire 4 1.34x
Caithness 3 8.14x
Channel Islands 3 3.76x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.80x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 5.13x
Surrey 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.50x
Banffshire 1 1.79x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Clackmannanshire 1 4.50x
Derbyshire 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Inverness-shire 1 1.24x
Kent 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.48x
Royal Navy 1 3.12x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Wiltshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Vigeans in Angus leads with 25 Rennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.74x.

Place Total Index
St Vigeans 25 185.74x
Bethnal Green London 13 11.11x
Bishopwearmouth 12 17.45x
Arbroath 11 133.01x
Dundee 9 9.66x
Newport 9 96.88x
East Stonehouse 8 72.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 5.51x
Hamilton 8 32.94x
St Giles 7 140.00x
Heath Reach 6 606.06x
Wemyss 6 89.02x
Banchory Ternan 5 176.68x
Beckermet St John 5 862.07x
Llangynwyd Higher 5 222.22x
Old Malton 5 297.62x
Rattray 5 177.94x
Leicester St Margaret 4 5.49x
Marykirk 4 296.30x
Portsea 4 3.70x
West Ham 4 3.41x
Bromley London 3 5.07x
Cardiff St Mary 3 11.62x
Foulridge 3 370.37x
Great Yarmouth 3 8.75x
Grouville 3 135.14x
Kensington London 3 2.00x
Kinnel 3 461.54x
St George Hanover 3 8.54x
St Pancras London 3 1.38x
Stracathro 3 666.67x
Tynemouth 3 13.99x
Wick 3 25.19x
Allerton 2 58.82x
Arbirlot 2 263.16x
Byker 2 10.10x
Clapham 2 5.94x
East Lexham 2 1111.11x
Everton 2 1.96x
Islington London 2 0.77x
Kelton 2 62.50x
Liverpool 2 1.03x
Lochee 2 90.09x
Millbrook 2 14.39x
Moulin 2 104.71x
Newchurch 2 7.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.63x
St Marylebone London 2 1.39x
Stockton On Tees 2 5.18x
Aughton 1 31.65x
Bridgewater 1 8.50x
Cheltenham 1 2.45x
Crompton 1 10.99x
Cullercoates 1 79.37x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.41x
Foveran 1 52.91x
Gateshead 1 1.67x
Greenock Oldor West 1 175.44x
Hammersmith London 1 1.51x
Hampstead London 1 2.38x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 10.33x
Holy Trinity 1 1.56x
Liff Benvie 1 2.64x
Marnoch 1 33.33x
Maybole 1 16.29x
Middlestone 1 62.11x
Oldham 1 0.97x
Outwell 1 125.00x
Panbride 1 76.92x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.88x
St Cuthbert Within 1 37.17x
St Helens 1 24.94x
Stannington 1 105.26x
Stonehouse East 1 35.21x
Stranton 1 3.71x
Trowbridge 1 9.51x
Tudhoe 1 14.27x
Turriff 1 24.88x
Walton On Hill 1 5.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 10
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Agnes 2
Isabel 2
Isabella 2
Maud 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Caroline 1
E.A. 1
E.J. 1
E.M.H. 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Joan 1
Johanna 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Mina 1
Minnie 1
P... 1
Priscilla 1
Rosena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Thomas 10
James 8
William 8
George 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Eustace 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
Lewis 1
Leyshon 1
Morgan 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Theophilus 1
Thso. 1
Walter 1
Wilson 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Renny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Renny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Renny surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Renny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Renny a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Renny surname mean?

A variant of the French surname Regnaud, derived from the given name Reinald or Reinold.

What does the Renny map show?

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