Surname Reaney - Meaning and Origin
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Reaney: What does the surname Reaney mean?
The last name Reaney is an English surname believed to have originated from the county of Lancashire. The name is derived from the name of a small area of land in the parish of Standish. The name of this area is thought to derive from the Old English words “Ra” and “leah”, which translate to “clearing in the pasture.”
Reaney is a common surname in Northern England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. It is most common around the town of Wigan, which is located in Lancashire.
The Reaney family have a long history in the area, with several members of the Reaney family living in Wigan in the 18th century. The Reaney name is strongly associated with the local area.
The name Reaney is associated with the traditional English past-time of driving sheep over fells, a traditional activity. The surname is also found around fells in the North of England, and there is even a fell named after the Reaney family. On the fell, Reaney's Hill, there is a plaque bearing the Reaney family coat of arms.
The Reaney family have also historically been associated with the local industries of hand weaving and weaving cotton and lace. Records exist of members of the Reaney family holding a contract with the Earl of Wigan, to weave cotton and lace, as well as indulging in farming, both in Lancashire and Cheshire.
Today, the Reaney family are still an integral part of the local community in the North of England. The traditional activities of hand weaving and farming are still carried out, although on a much smaller scale. The Reaney family are still strongly associated with the fells in the North of England and Reaney’s Hill is an area of local pride.
Order DNA origin analysisReaney: Where does the name Reaney come from?
The last name Reaney is primarily found in Western Europe, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, and England. It is also common in the United States and Canada, where it has been historically passed down by families that have long been established in these countries. There is also a large diaspora of Reaneys located in Australasia, South Africa and other parts of the world.
The Reaney family has a deep history, believed to have first originated in Wales. There are also many branches of this family that resided in Devon, England and in County Cork, Ireland. Reaney is an exceptionally old name, believed to have originated between the 9th and 11th centuries.
The surname Reaney is popular in its native Ireland and Scotland, however, it is thought to have grown less common due to emigration. In the United States, it is ranked at 11,380 out of 88,799 in terms of the most popular surnames in 2020.
The Reaney family is still active in making a difference in the world today, with members making noteworthy contributions in their chosen fields. These include innovators and entrepreneurs, authors, historians, and philanthropists. Their presence is felt in different countries across the world, making it a strong and lasting legacy.
Variations of the surname Reaney
The surname Reaney has a multitude of variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants may include Reaney, Rainey, Raney, Rayney, Raynie, Rayny, Reany, Reeney, Riney, and Rinney. Spellings may include Rainey, Raneye, Rayney, Raynye, Reaney, Reaneyte, Reany, Reeney, Reeneye, Reneye, Riney, Rineye, and Rinye. Surnames with the same origin as Reaney may include Rainy, Rayne, Raynne, Reaney, Reiney, Reinne, Renney, and Reyne.
The surname Reaney derives from the old English personal name "Ragin", which meant "advice". Other surnames derived from this same origin may include Ragen, Regan, Raines, Reagan, Ray and Rae, and Regin. Additionally, the surname could have been formed from the Gaelic personal name "O'Raighne" meaning "descendant of the small king".
Reaney is common in Ireland, mostly in county Londonderry and county Tyrone. Variants of Reaney may also be found in countries such as Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Scotland, and the United States. In the United States, the highest concentration of surnames derived from the name Reaney is in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois.
Whether one is searching for variant spellings and surnames of Reaney, or trying to trace one's ancestry using the name, the variations of Reaney offer a large, diverse pool of potential surnames to explore.
Famous people with the name Reaney
- Christopher Reaney: American radio personality
- Brad Reaney: American comedian
- Tim Reaney: Former American professional footballer
- Tyler Reaney: Irish actor and director
- Richard Paul Reaney: American politician
- Nicola Reaney: British television presenter
- Ronald Reaney: British actor
- Rhys Reaney: Welsh athlete
- Lars Reaney: German actor
- Jean Reaney: Canadian actress