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

Rayner, 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 Rayner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rayner in America

Rayner is the 8222nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rayner surname appeared 4,036 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rayner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rayner 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 Rayner

The surname Rayner is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "reneier," which means "to deny" or "to renounce." This name was initially given as a nickname to someone who had renounced their faith or beliefs.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rayner can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Walter le Rayner, whose name appears in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. Another early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a John le Reyner is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various documents and records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a Richard le Reyner is listed. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1332 also mention a William Rayner.

The Rayner surname is closely associated with several place names in England, particularly those derived from the Old English words "hræfn" or "hræfn-" meaning "raven." Places like Ravensbourne, Ravenscourt, and Raventhorpe may have influenced the development and spelling variations of the name.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Rayner was William Rayner (c. 1435-1505), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. Another notable figure was Edward Rayner (1576-1623), an English poet and clergyman who authored several works, including "Deliæ. Contayning certayne Sonnets," published in 1592.

In the 17th century, Sir John Rayner (1624-1670) was a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as the Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1666 to 1670. Samuel Rayner (1668-1725) was an English churchman and academic who became the Bishop of Down and Connor in 1713.

During the 18th century, John Rayner (1700-1771) was a notable English businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Foundling Hospital in London. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1735-1736.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Samuel Rayner (1806-1879), an English artist and engraver who was best known for his landscapes and architectural subjects. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rayner

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

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 Rayner 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 Rayner 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 Rayner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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