Find out how popular the last name Rainsford is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rainsford.

Rainsford, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rainsford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rainsford in America

Rainsford is the 73464th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rainsford surname appeared 264 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rainsford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rainsford to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rainsford

The surname Rainsford has its origins in England, with roots that can be traced back to the early medieval period, specifically the 11th century. The name is believed to have derived from an Old English place name, "Renesford," which translates to "the ford across the river Rennet" or "Rene's ford."

This place name is thought to have referred to a location in the county of Wiltshire, where the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found. One of the earliest documented references to the name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

During the 13th century, the surname Rainsford began to appear in various historical records, often spelled slightly differently, such as "Raynesford" or "Reynsford." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the surname Rainsford was Sir John Rainsford (c. 1370-1428), a prominent English landowner and military commander who served under King Henry V during the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War. He is believed to have participated in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Another historical figure of note was Sir Henry Rainsford (c. 1505-1573), an English politician and courtier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire and held various positions under the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Rainsford family established themselves as landowners and gentry in County Wexford, Ireland. William Rainsford (1587-1677), an English-born soldier and landowner, was granted estates in Ireland after serving in the army of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Marcus Rainsford (1664-1744), an Irish-born military officer who served in the British Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He played a significant role in various military campaigns during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The surname Rainsford has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. One such individual was Cadwallader Rainsford (1740-1846), an Irish-born author and playwright who wrote several works, including the play "The Wife of Two Husbands."

Throughout its history, the surname Rainsford has maintained a strong presence in England and Ireland, with various branches of the family continuing to hold significant roles in various fields, including military service, politics, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rainsford

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rainsford.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rainsford was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rainsford has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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