Topics

• About the Reynish One-Name Study
• Variants
• Origin of the surname
• Historical occurrences
• Frequency of the name
• Distribution of the name
• Data
• Links
• Contact Details

About the Reynish One-Name Study

My link with the surname REYNISH is through my great grandmother Eleanor Jane REYNISH, born Llandeilo CMN in 1846, daughter of William. She married Henry HEARD (my maiden surname) in 1864 in Llanfabon, GLA. Upon his death she lived with Henry TREASURE and took his name. Yet she died as Eleanor HEARD in 1899 in Chelsea LND.

Some years ago a lovely lady called Win HOOK, now deceased, generously allowed me to photocopy her collection of occurrences of REYNISH. Unfortunately there were few references with her data so I am attempting to verify and catalogue all these entries as well as collect others.

I believe all current REYNISHes seem to originate from Pembrokeshire in West Wales but I am happy to be given alternative ideas.

Variants

The variants registered with the Guild are RAYNISH, RENISH, RENNISH, RHENICH and RHENISH.

However I have also come across RYNISH, RYNIS, RYNICH, RINISH and RINNISH.

Origin of the surname

The origin is open to discussion.

Some say it comes from the Flemish in Belgium. Some say it is Norman in origin and is linked with ESSEX but this is based on the assumption that the surname RAINES is a variant. It may be a link with wine called RHENISH...or not!

To date (Apr 2007) the surname has not been found in any surname dictionary-not even in the comprehensive dictionary produced by John & Sheila ROWLANDS on Welsh surnames.

Historical occurrences

The most famous ancestor (so far) is George Edward Crowther REYNISH (1836 to 1924) who emigrated to New Zealand via Australia and was responsible for the large community of REYNISH names in New Zealand.

Also I must not forget Timothy REYNISH, the internationally renowned composer and conductor whose biography can be see on http://www.timreynish.com/tim_reynish_biography.htm

Frequency of the name

In 1881 census there were 167 persons recorded. The highest concentration of the REYNISH surname was in Pembrokeshire (77), moving out to Glamorgan (45), Monmouthshire (10), Gloucestershire (7), Wiltshire (5), Lancashire (7), London, Essex and Kent (14). Also two were in Yorkshire.

Distribution of the name

'Scotland's People' website has been searched but there are no births. marriages or deaths in Scotland since Civil Registration began there in 1855. However one marriage has been found in Musselburgh in 1821 between Martha RENISH (father's name John) and Thomas THOMSON.

It is known from various websites that there are descendants in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. The most prominent of these being Kyle REYNISH, goalkeeper with UC Santa Barbara in California...now picked for Real Salt Lake City.

Data

I hold copies of the indexes in England and Wales for Births. Marriages and Deaths from 1837 to 1911.

I also have details of Probate (Wills and Administrations) from 1858 to 1996. I do have many wills before 1858.

I am beginning a more comprehensive search of all censuses in England and Wales, although a great deal has been collected already.

I do have some parish register material for baptisms, marriages and burials before 1837. I also have some family trees but these are not yet verified for accuracy.

All these are being added to daily on my database.

Links

A simple index of the archive of Births, Marriages, Deaths, Adoptions and Probate may be viewed here:

/cgi-bin/archive/frontpage.cgi?study=Reynish

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mrs Pat Wilson
11 Ardmore Close,
Tuffley,
Gloucester
GL4 0BJ
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:

This page last updated 27 April 2008.

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