Surname Ranney - Meaning and Origin
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Ranney: What does the surname Ranney mean?
The last name Ranney is predominantly linked to various geographies in England and the United States. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from an Old English personal name, "Rǣgenhere". This personal name is a combination of two elements: "rǣgen", meaning "counsel" or "decision", and "here", meaning "army". The surname itself could be topographical, referring to someone who lived near the boundary or edge of a settlement, village, or city; it could also be locational, indicating origin from places called Renny or Rainy in England.
Ranney could also be an altered form of Rennie, a Scottish last name form of the Irish name O’Riain, meaning "descendant of Rian", which means "little king" or "king".
This surname is often found in the United States, particularly in New England, as it was carried by English immigrants who came during the colonial period. Surnames policies were not standardized in the United States until the late nineteenth century, so the spelling of the name often changed between generations.
Overall, the last name Ranney signifies a rich tapestry of historical influence and geographical dispersion.
Order DNA origin analysisRanney: Where does the name Ranney come from?
The last name Ranney is most commonly found in the United States, specifically in the northeast region. The most recent census data shows that the surname is particularly more prevalent in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut.
Ranney families in the United States can trace their ancestors back to England, where the English surname was first recorded. Records suggest that the surname derives from multiple origins, including a place name in Northumberland, a Norman French location in Dorset, and the Old Norse personal name Reyni or Reinni.
Ranney families also appear to have been active in Ireland during the 17th century, when settlers from England and Scotland brought the last name to the island. The earliest recorded occurrence of this surname in Ireland was in the names of Andrew, John, and Jonathan Ranney, who immigrated to Dublin in 1673.
Today, it's estimated that there are about 7,500 Ranney's in the United States alone. According to FamilySearch, individuals carrying this surname are scattered all across the globe. It's mostly concentrated in the United States, Canada, and England, but can also be found in Germany, India, Ireland, Australia, and beyond.
Variations of the surname Ranney
The surname Ranney is of English origin and may be derived from the personal name Rannulf or Ranulf. Variants and spellings of this surname include Ranny, Rannay, Ranno, Rano, Rannie, Ranny, Rannoe, Rawney, Ranneye, and Ranneyy.
Ranny and Rannay are only found in North America, out of all the variants, and are much less common than other variants such as Ranney, Rano, and Rannoe. Ranneye and Rawney are found the most in the United States, where the surname originated.
Surnames of the same origin include Rainy, Ranny, Ranye, and Rawney. Ranney is the most common of the group of surnames, followed by Ranny, Ranye, and Rawney. Other variant spellings and surnames are found scattered throughout the UK, North America, and Australia.
Ranno is found in British and European record, when translated to English, the name reads as Rannulf or Ranulf, and is derived from the Germanic name Raedwulf. Variants of this surname have been found in Germany and Austria.
Other variants of the surname include Rainy, Ranny, Raini, Raine, and Rainy. Rainy is most commonly found in the UK, and has some variants that include Reaney and Rainey.
Rannie is an old English surname, and variants such as Ranie and Rannye are not commonly found in the United States. In Australia, the spelling Ranny is more commonly found than the other variants. It is thought that the spelling is derived from the Gaelic name, which translates as "deceitful".
Famous people with the name Ranney
- Charles Ranney: an American lawyer and co-founder of the law firm Jones Day
- Arnold Ranney: an American football player and track coach
- Sir Robert Ranney: a British Colonel and the commander of the British forces during the American Revolution
- John Ranney: an American politician and Governor of Ohio from 1894 to 1896
- Reinhold Ranney: an American attorney and politician who represented Rhode Island in the United States House of Representatives
- Edward Ranney: an American photographer and photojournalist
- Calista Ranney: a Canadian ski jumper who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Lauren Ranney: an American soccer player for the San Francisco Dash
- Lyle Ranney: an American basketball coach and collegiate athletics administrator
- Robert Ranney: an American astrophysicist and a professor at Princeton University