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

Renfro, 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 Renfro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Renfro in America

Renfro is the 3623rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Renfro surname appeared 9,806 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Renfro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Renfro 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 Renfro

The surname Renfro is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English term "hrenefrog," which referred to a type of frog or toad. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname, possibly for someone who lived near a pond or marsh where frogs were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Renefro" who held land in Worcestershire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Renfrow, Renfrew, and Renfroo, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. Some of these alternative spellings may have been influenced by the Scottish town of Renfrew, located near Glasgow, which could have contributed to the name's evolution.

In the 16th century, the Renfro surname gained prominence with the birth of John Renfro (c. 1500-1570), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament for Ipswich. His son, Thomas Renfro (1530-1605), followed in his footsteps and also held a seat in Parliament.

Another notable figure bearing the Renfro name was Sir Walter Renfro (1585-1665), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Charles I. His legal expertise and impartiality earned him widespread respect among his contemporaries.

In the late 17th century, the Renfro family established roots in the American colonies, with William Renfro (1648-1720) being one of the earliest recorded immigrants to arrive in Virginia from England. He settled in what is now Henrico County and became a successful tobacco planter, laying the foundation for future generations of Renfros in the United States.

As the name spread across England and beyond, it continued to evolve, with variations like Renfrew, Renfry, and Renfree emerging over time. Despite these changes, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its Old English beginnings, reflecting the rich tapestry of history and linguistic influences that have shaped surnames throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Renfro

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

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

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

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