REYNOLDS
Reynolds is a surname of English origin that derives from the medieval personal name Reynold. The name Reynold is itself a variant of the Germanic name Raginwald, composed of the elements ragin (“counsel” or “advice”) and wald (“rule” or “ruler”). Consequently the surname may be interpreted as “counselor” or “ruler”.
The surname belongs to the class of patronymic names, signifying “son of Reynold”. Its earliest attestations in England appear in the 13th‑century records of the Hundred Rolls and Subsidy Rolls, for example John Reynold of Cambridgeshire (1273) and John Reynalds of Worcestershire (1275). Later documents record Ricardus Raynoldson in the Yorkshire Poll Tax rolls (1379) and Robert Reyghnoldes in a London marriage record (1617). Subsequent spellings include Rennel, Rennells, Runnalls and Reynoldson, reflecting the fluid orthography of the period.
Although the name is principally English, it possesses Norse‑Norman antecedents. Viking settlers introduced a form of the name, Rognvaldr, in the eighth century, and the Norman conquest of 1066 brought the French version Reinald. These linguistic layers explain the variety of medieval spellings and the eventual consolidation of the modern form Reynolds.
In the early modern period the surname spread to the Americas. The first recorded bearer in New England was Robert Reynolds, noted in the Virginia colony register of 1623 as “dead at ye plantacon over against James Cittie”. A coat of armour, probably granted by King Edward III (1327‑1377), displays an ermine field charged with a red chevronel and a chief indented in black.
According to genealogical sources the surname is associated with the British Isles, particularly England, and is linked to the Christian faith. Its classification as “from name of parent” reflects its patronymic nature, while its linguistic roots remain firmly Germanic.
Typical given names associated with the Reynolds surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Reynold
- Reynoldson
- Rannals
- Reynard
- Renny
- Rennison
- Rennie
- Raynolds
- Ranolds
- Raynold
- Ranold
- Renyolds
- Reynolda
- Regnolds
- Reinold
- Reinolds
- Renholds
- Rennold
- Rennolds
- Rennoldson
- Renold
- Renoldi
- Renolds
- Renoldson
- Renolls
- Renoylds
- Renynolds
- Reynalds
- Reynelds
- Reynoldes
- Reynoles
- Reynollds
- Reynolls
- Reynonlds
- Reynoulds
- Reyonalds
- Reyonlds
- Rynolds
- Reinhold
- Renalds
- Rennolls
- Reynods
- Reynolos
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Reynolds in...
Braille
⠗⠑⠽⠝⠕⠇⠙⠎
Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Reynolds are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 53,851 people named Reynolds in the UK. That makes it the 124th most common surname in Britain. Around 827 in a million people in Britain are named Reynolds.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Reynolds
- Ryan Reynolds - Canadian-American actor, comedian, film producer, and screenwriter
- Debbie Reynolds - American actress, singer, and dancer (1932 to 2016)
- Burt Reynolds - American actor, director and producer (1936 to 2018)
- Bruce Reynolds - Criminal (1931 to 2013)
- Joshua Reynolds - Painter, specialising in portraits (1723 to 1792)
- Alastair Reynolds - Novelist and astronomer
- Paul Reynolds - Musician
- Dan Reynolds - American singer and songwriter
- Jonathan Reynolds - Politician
- Simon Reynolds - Music critic
- Emma Reynolds - Politician
- David Reynolds - Historian
- Paul Reynolds - Actor
- Mark Reynolds - Scottish football player
- Jack Reynolds - Football player (1881 to 1962)
- Nicola Reynolds - Actress
- Rose Reynolds - Actress
- Peter Reynolds - Actor (1926 to 1975)
- Dean Reynolds - Snooker player
- Fiona Reynolds - Civil servant and academic administrator
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.