Find out how popular the first name Renwick has been for the last 48 years (from 1974 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Renwick by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Renwick is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Renwick.

The history of the first name Renwick

The given name Renwick originates from the Old English language, stemming from the combination of the words "ren," meaning a stream or brook, and "wic," referring to a dwelling or settlement. This name first emerged in Anglo-Saxon England during the 7th to 11th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Renwick can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several villages and hamlets with names containing the "ren" and "wic" elements were documented in this record, suggesting the name's prevalence among the local population.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Renwick was Sir John Renwick, a Scottish minister and covenanter who lived from 1662 to 1688. He played a prominent role in the Killing Times, a period of intense persecution of Presbyterians in Scotland, and was eventually executed for his beliefs.

In the literary realm, the name Renwick gained recognition through the works of Sir Walter Scott, the renowned Scottish novelist and poet. In his novel "Old Mortality," published in 1816, one of the characters is named Renwick, likely a nod to the historical figure mentioned earlier.

Another notable bearer of the name was James Renwick Jr., an American engineer and educator who lived from 1818 to 1895. He served as the first president of Renwick College, a now-defunct institution in Kentucky, and made significant contributions to the field of engineering education.

During the 19th century, Renwick was also the name of a prominent family in New York City. James Renwick Jr., an architect born in 1818, designed several iconic buildings, including St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Smithsonian Institution Building, known as the Renwick Gallery.

In more recent times, Renwick Curry, born in 1954, is a notable American basketball player who played in the NBA for several teams, including the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, during the 1970s and 1980s.

While the name Renwick may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and linguistic roots in Old English provide a fascinating glimpse into the naming traditions of ancient Anglo-Saxon societies.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Renwick was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Renwick, please contact us.

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