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

Renfroe, 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 Renfroe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Renfroe in America

Renfroe is the 6956th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Renfroe surname appeared 4,822 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Renfroe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Renfroe 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 Renfroe

The surname Renfroe has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "ræfn" meaning raven and "hol" meaning a hollow or small valley, suggesting the name originally referred to someone who lived near a raven-filled hollow or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appeared as "Renfreu," which is likely an earlier spelling variation.

In the 16th century, the name was also associated with the town of Renfrew in Renfrewshire, Scotland. This connection might have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. The town's name itself is derived from the Gaelic "Rinn Friù," meaning "point of the thicket."

Notable historical figures bearing the Renfroe surname include Sir John Renfroe (1592-1657), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament, and William Renfroe (1623-1691), a merchant and trader who established one of the first successful trading posts in the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Renfrew," "Renfrewe," and "Renfreu" in various Scottish records and documents. One prominent individual from this time was Robert Renfroe (1734-1809), a Scottish-born entrepreneur who established a successful shipping business in the West Indies.

As the surname spread beyond Scotland, it became more commonly spelled as "Renfroe." In the 19th century, John C. Renfroe (1817-1891), an American lawyer and politician from Alabama, served as a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.

Another notable figure was Mary Renfroe (1855-1926), an American educator and activist who worked tirelessly to establish schools and educational opportunities for African American children in the post-Civil War era.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the Renfroe surname throughout history, highlighting its Scottish origins and the various spellings and variations that have emerged over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Renfroe

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

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

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

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