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Reynolds (surname)

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There are two major lineages of the Reynolds surname, Irish and English, but only the English ancestry is given here.

Reynolds Family Crest

The name Reynolds reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Reynolds family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Reynolds is based on the Norman given name Reginald or Regenwald, meaning brave councilor, which is an alteration of the Old French name Reinold.

Manuscript records like the Domesday Book ‎(compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror)‎, the Inquisitios, the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, and local parish and church records, show that the first record of the name Reynolds was found in Somerset where they were granted lands by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Early records of the name mention Willemus filius Raunaldi who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The name, Reynolds, appeared in many references, but from time to time, spellings included Reynell (surname), Reynolds, Reynold, Reynalds, Reinell, Renaud, Renaut, Renouf, Rennard, Renals, Rennell, Rennels, Rennoll and many more. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. Hence, a person would appear to be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with still another.

Mistakenly, the Normans were of French origin but, originally, they were Vikings. These Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their Chief, Stirgud the Stout. Later, under their Jarl, Thorfinn Rollo, they invaded France about 911 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Duke William, who invaded and defeated England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.

Reynolds emerged as a notable family name in the county of Somerset where Sir Richard Reynell (d.1194) was seated at Pitney and was given custody of the Castles at Exeter and Launceston by King Richard I when he went to the Holy Land in 1191. During the same period Godfrey, Robert and Torketil Renoldus were registered in Normandy, in 1198. Meanwhile many of the junior branches had joined Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke in the invasion of Ireland where they became the Earls of Cavan, of Lisburne, of Mountmorris. In England the main line was forfeited but Sir Richard's son recovered the lands and became the Earl of Devon. This distinguished west country family also branched to other locations in England mostly under the name Reynolds. Outstanding amongst the family at this time was the Baronets Reynell, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, a painter. Walter Reynolds ‎(d. 1327)‎ was the son of a Windsor baker, who became the favourite of King Edward II; he made the Archbishop of Canterbury ‎(1313-1327)‎.

The surname Reynolds contributed much to the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 12th century many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland in the train of the Earl of Huntington, later to become King David of Scotland.

In Ireland, settlers became known as the "Adventurers for land." They "undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, and were granted lands previously held by the Irish. This family migrated to Ireland during two periods, first with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, and later, in the 17th century giving rise to the Reynells of Reynell castle. In some cases it is difficult to distinguish early migrants from native Irish Reynolds who derive their name from McRannell, formerly spelt as "Mac Ragnaill".

Many made the arduous journey to the New World. Among settlers to North America bearing the family name Reynolds were Henry, Samuel, Thomas Reynold settled in the Barbados in 1688; Christopher Reynolds settled in Virginia in 1622; Nathaniel Reynold settled in Salem in 1630; Robert Reynolds settled in Salem in 1630 with Mary and his four children; Cornelius, Edward, George, Hannah, James, Mary, Nicholas, Richard Reynolds also settled in Virginia. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

From recent history, notable bearers of the Reynolds surname include: John Reynolds ‎(1788-1865)‎, American politician, Governor of Illinois; James Clark McReynolds ‎(1862-1946)‎, U.S. Attorney General ‎(1913-14)‎ and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court ‎(1914-41)‎; Albert Reynolds ‎(b.1935)‎, Irish politician, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland ‎(1992-95)‎; Debbie Reynolds ‎(b.1932)‎, American actress and singer; Harold Craig Reynolds ‎(b.1960)‎, American Major League Baseball player; Christopher Reynolds, Australian Archbishop of Adelaide ‎(1873-1893)‎; Lloyd Reynolds, American Economist; as well as Burt Reynolds ‎(b.1936)‎, American actor.

The Motto for the Coat of Arms translates as: I will defend my right.

Motto reads in Latin: Jus meum tuebor

"Reynolds Genealogy", Certificate # 2866620073062, Swyrich Corp., 1998 - 2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

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