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

Renshaw, 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 Renshaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Renshaw in America

Renshaw is the 7599th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Renshaw surname appeared 4,374 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 Renshaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Renshaw 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 Renshaw

The surname Renshaw has its origins in the northern counties of England, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "ren" or "ryn," meaning a small stream or rivulet, and "sceaga," meaning a small wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, where a John de Renshaw is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and may have originated as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a small stream or rivulet surrounded by a grove.

The Renshaw family is also believed to have had connections to various locations in Lancashire and Yorkshire, such as Renshaw in Leyland and Renshawholme in Ormskirk. These place names likely inspired or reinforced the surname's usage.

During the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century, a notable figure named Thomas Renshaw served as a courtier and diplomat. He was born around 1498 and died in 1555. Another early individual of note was John Renshaw, a clergyman who lived from 1625 to 1680 and served as the Rector of Standish in Lancashire.

In the 18th century, a prominent Renshaw family emerged in Liverpool, with several members becoming successful merchants and shipowners. One of the most notable figures from this family was Samuel Renshaw (1744-1811), a prominent shipowner and merchant who played a significant role in the growth of Liverpool's maritime trade.

Another famous bearer of the Renshaw surname was William Renshaw (1861-1904), a British tennis player who won seven major singles titles, including the Wimbledon Championships in 1888. His younger brother, Ernest Renshaw (1861-1899), was also a successful tennis player, winning the Wimbledon Championships in 1888 and 1889.

Throughout history, the Renshaw surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including clergymen, merchants, shipowners, and athletes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Renshaw

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

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

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

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