NameCensus.

UK surname

Renouf

A French toponymic surname derived from the Norman village of Renouville.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Renouf surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 433, ranked #11,120, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Norwich, Isle of Wight and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Renouf is 446 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 821.3%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

433

2016, ranked #11,120

Peak year

2010

446 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Renouf had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 433 in 2016, ranked #11,120.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Renouf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Renouf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Renouf 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 420 #10,608
1998 modern 420 #10,973
1999 modern 442 #10,606
2000 modern 441 #10,611
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 431 #10,820
2003 modern 426 #10,742
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 407 #11,041
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 421 #10,920
2008 modern 418 #11,083
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 446 #10,988
2011 modern 434 #11,096
2012 modern 432 #11,015
2013 modern 430 #11,259
2014 modern 431 #11,308
2015 modern 436 #11,099
2016 modern 433 #11,120

Geography

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Where Renoufs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Portsmouth, Portsea and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Norwich, Isle of Wight, East Devon and Chichester. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Norwich 005 Norwich
2 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
3 East Devon 014 East Devon
4 Chichester 012 Chichester
5 Isle of Wight 015 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Renouf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Renouf

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

Renouf 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

Renouf 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 Renouf 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 Renouf, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Renouf

The surname RENOUF has its origins in Normandy, France, and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "renouvel," which means "renewal" or "rebirth." This name was likely given to someone who had undergone a significant change or transformation in their life.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RENOUF surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Renouf de Crevecoeur," suggesting that it was already established in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the RENOUF surname was Renouf de Gisors, a French knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade led by Louis IX of France between 1248 and 1254. De Gisors was born around 1220 and died sometime after his return from the Holy Land.

During the 14th century, the RENOUF name was associated with several prominent individuals in England. John Renouf (c. 1310-1380) was a wealthy landowner and merchant in London, while Richard Renouf (c. 1335-1395) served as the Sheriff of Hampshire in 1382.

In the 16th century, the RENOUF surname can be found in various records across Europe. Jacques Renouf (c. 1520-1590) was a French Protestant theologian and writer who fled religious persecution in France and settled in Geneva, Switzerland. Meanwhile, in England, Thomas Renouf (c. 1560-1625) was a renowned scholar and translator who produced one of the earliest English translations of the works of Plutarch.

The 17th century saw the emergence of another notable figure with the RENOUF surname, Peter Renouf (c. 1625-1692). He was a French Huguenot who fled to England to escape religious persecution and became a successful merchant and landowner in London.

Throughout the centuries, the RENOUF surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Renoufe, Renoufle, and Renouffe, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions where the name was present. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names, such as Renouville in Normandy, France, and Renville in Yorkshire, England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Renouf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Renouf 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. Channel Islands leads with 707 Renoufs recorded in 1881 and an index of 324.39x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 707 324.39x
Surrey 11 0.31x
Middlesex 10 0.14x
Somerset 7 0.59x
Essex 4 0.28x
Lancashire 4 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.64x
Glamorgan 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.18x
Roxburghshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 157 Renoufs recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.28x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 157 221.28x
St Martin 135 1011.24x
St Peter Port 84 208.33x
St Michaelinthe Vale 77 989.72x
St Andrew 47 1631.94x
Trinity 37 732.67x
St Saviour 35 290.46x
St Sampson 29 295.32x
St Peter 20 317.97x
St Brelade 19 338.68x
St Mary 14 557.77x
St John 13 312.50x
Grouville 10 164.74x
St Owen 9 157.07x
St Clement 8 240.96x
Bedminster 7 6.29x
Islington London 5 0.70x
Lambeth 5 0.78x
Southwark St John 5 22.22x
St Lawrence 5 84.03x
St Maryde Castro 5 93.28x
Corringham 3 272.73x
Everton 3 1.08x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 3 59.29x
Limehouse London 3 3.72x
St Anne 3 77.12x
Brighton 2 0.80x
Cardiff St Mary 2 2.84x
Basingstoke 1 5.77x
Bristol 1 73.53x
Chigwell 1 7.30x
Greenock Newor Middle 1 196.08x
Kensington London 1 0.24x
Poplar London 1 0.72x
Toxteth Park 1 0.34x
Wilton 1 6.84x
Wimbledon 1 2.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 66
Thomas 30
Philip 26
Charles 19
James 19
William 17
George 16
Francis 13
Peter 13
Frederick 12
Edward 9
Walter 9
Joseph 8
Henry 7
Albert 6
Clement 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Nicholas 4
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Josue 3
Nicolas 3
Phillip 3
Winter 3
Clifford 2
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Emile 2
Fred 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Mansell 2
Stephen 2
Ch.F. 1
Ch.Geo. 1
Ch.Stephen 1
Chs. 1
Dan 1
Edouard 1
F. 1
Frs.A. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Jean 1
Jno.Blampied 1
Lomprieux 1
Matin 1
Matthew 1
Olivier 1

FAQ

Renouf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Renouf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Renouf surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Renouf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 433 in 2016. That gives Renouf a modern rank of #11,120.

What does the Renouf surname mean?

A French toponymic surname derived from the Norman village of Renouville.

What does the Renouf map show?

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