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===Drama and Television===
===Drama and Television===
*[[Brennan Reynolds]]<!-- red link --> (born 1981), U.S. actor
*[[Burt Reynolds]] (born 1936), U.S. actor
*[[Burt Reynolds]] (born 1936), U.S. actor
*[[Debbie Reynolds]] (born 1932), U.S. actress
*[[Debbie Reynolds]] (born 1932), U.S. actress

Revision as of 02:44, 27 June 2010

There are two major lineages of the Reynolds surname, Irish and English.

Irish Reynolds

The Irish Reynolds ancestral line is the more common among inhabitants of the United States. A Gaelic name, it's usually anglicized from the common English one. In Irish, it is MacRaghnaill, which derives from the Gaelic of Randal or Reginald. The Reynolds surname originates in and around County Leitrim, where the name was rather influential prior to the seventeenth century. Throughout Ireland's rich history, the Reynolds family name was a prominent one, and even today, County Leitrim is the principal stronghold of the name, nearly half the people in Ireland so called hailing from that area.

Like many Irish families, the Reynolds began emigrating from Ireland in two fronts, early on in America's history, as they settled in the northeast prior to the American Revolution and during the "Great Irish Famine", when millions of Irish Catholics came to North America.

Some of the better-known Irish Reynolds include:

English Reynolds

Reynolds Family Crest
Joshua Reynolds - self portrait

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. The surname Reynolds' Latin translation is "by God's favour."

The English chronicle, though shrouded by the mists of time, reveals the early history of the name Reynolds to be of Norman origin. The name first appeared in England from about 1066 and is woven into the richly embroidered tapestry which vividly depicts the ancient history of Great Britain.

Diligent analysts used such 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, to determine 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 believed to be of French origin but, more correctly, they were Vikings. These Vikings landed in the Orkney Islands 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 (died 1194) held a family seat 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 ‎(died 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 the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Restless with the conflicts of Church and State, many had visions of a better life.

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. They sailed aboard the fleet of tiny, overcrowded sailing ships known as the "White Sails."

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 (U.S. politician) ‎(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 most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was: A silver shield with a portcullis and three blue bars.

The Crest was: A fox.

The ancient family Motto for this distinguished name was: Jus meum tuebor

Motto translation: I will defend my right.

"The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname Reynolds", Certificate # 25372201034206 218537, Swyrich Corp., 1998 - 2010 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

People

People with entries in Wikipedia whose family name is or was Reynolds include:

Disambiguation

Business and Politics

Drama and Television

Literature and Journalism

Music

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Other

Fictional characters

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