Rennold is an English surname that represents a variant of Reynolds. While Reynolds itself is the patronymic form of the given name Reynold, Rennold emerges as a phonetic or spelling variant, likely influenced by regional pronunciation or scribal preferences.
Etymology
The surname Rennold traces its ultimate origin to the Germanic personal name Raginald, composed of the elements regin meaning "advice, counsel, decision" and walt meaning "power, authority." Introduced to Britain by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, this name appeared in forms like Reinald or Reinold. It consolidated with competing Old English and Norse cognates, becoming widespread in the Middle Ages. After the 15th century, the given name declined in popularity, but surnames derived from it—such as Reynolds, Rennold, and Rennell—persisted.
Distribution
According to Forebears, the surname Rennold is relatively rare and found primarily in English-speaking countries, especially in the United Kingdom and United States. It remains far less common than the dominant form Reynolds.
Related Variants
Rennold belongs to a large family of surnames derived from Reynold. Direct variants include Rennell, Rennoll, Reynell, and of course Reynolds. In other languages, cognate forms such as French Renaud or Reynaud, Italian Rinaldi or Naldi, and Scottish McReynolds share the same root.
- Meaning: Variant of Reynolds, derived from the Germanic name Raginald meaning "counsel power"
- Origin: English surname
- Type: Patronymic
- Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially UK and US