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Rainer

  • 49 members
Administrators
  • Gavin Rayner
General Fund
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About us

Introduction

Hi Everyone,

I noticed that the RAINER project hasn't had an administrator for some time (activity log shows admin removed 27 Aug 2019) so I've volunteered to take on the role. My aim is to inject some life into the project. To do that we need lots more data so please can I appeal to existing project members to:
  • If you know male Rainers ask them if they would be willing to take a Y-DNA test and join the project.
  • Enter the details of your Paternal Earliest Known Ancestor (Name, Birth/Death date and PLACE): Account Settings > Genealogy > Direct Paternal Ancestor. https://www.familytreedna.com/my/genealogy
  • Check your existing Y-DNA matches, then contact any Rainers (or surname variants) and ask them to join the project.
  • Check your autosomal DNA matches, contact any Rainers (or variants), ask them if they know any male Rainers that would be willing to take a Y-DNA test and join the project.
  • Consider upgrading your Y-DNA test to Big Y-700.
  • Enter Beneficiary Information: Account Settings > Beneficiary Information. https://www.familytreedna.com/my/account-information
  • Please also take a Family Finder test with FamilyTreeDNA or upload the results of an autosomal test taken with another testing company such as AncestryDNA.

Best Regards,

Gavin Rayner
Project Administrator


Goals

Goals of the project are summarized as follows:
  • To identify which members (or family branches) are most closely related to each other. Those that have similar genetic signatures can be considered to be genetically related and are grouped together into lineages.
  • To allow the established member of a genetic lineage (or family) to tap into the reservoir of genealogical information provided by other members of his family, such as:  family bibles, documented family histories, paper trail research, etc.
  • To confirm genetic relationships postulated by traditional genealogies and paper trail evidence.
  • To help members find the best focus for further documentary research.
  • To identify the likely origin of a genetic family.
  • To study the evolution of the surname from its earliest origins to its present day forms.
  • To document and publish the results along the way so that others can derive the maximum benefit from the project.


Origins of the Rayner Surname


Variants: Raynor, Rainer, Ranner, Renner, Reyner, Reiner, Reiners
  • Current frequencies: GB 10102, Ireland 38
  • GB frequency 1881: 7405
  • Main GB location 1881: WR Yorks, Lancs; also E Anglia, Surrey, Kent
  • Main Irish location 1847-64: Dublin 
Norman, English: relationship name from the Old French given name Rainer, Reiner, Renier (Continental Germanic Raginhari, from ragin ‘counsel’ + hari, heri ‘army’). The surname was later much confused with Reynold and Reynard.

Early bearers: given names: Rainerus, 1086 in Domesday Book; Reynerus cancellarius, 1101-25 in Saint Benet of Holme Register (Norfolk); Reyner de Stanford, 1216 in Northants Record Office (Helpston, Northants); Renerus, about 1250 in Ramsey Cartulary (Norfolk).

surnames: Ricardus filius Rainer, 1148 in Winton Domesday (Hants); Alexander Reygner, 1229 in Close Rolls; William Rayner, 1216-72 in Gilbertine Charters (Lincs); William Reyner, 1286 in Assize Rolls (Staffs); Elis Raynor, 1377 in Poll Tax (West Farleigh, Kent); Robertus Rayner’, 1381 in Poll Tax (Cottingham, ER Yorks); Richard Rayner, 1441 in Feet of Fines (Kent); William Rayner, 1474 in Feet of Fines (Gildersome (in Batley), WR Yorks); Marmaduke Reynor, 1558 in TNA; Simon Reyner of Darlton [Notts], 1566 in Derbys Record Office (Glapwell, Derbys); Reinold Reiner, 1582 in IGI (Davington, Kent); Maria Renner, 1627 in IGI (Ely, Cambs); Robert Ranare, 1651 in Parish Registers (Rothwell, WR Yorks); Thomas Reynors, 1738.



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J. B. Whitmore (1953) A Genealogical Guide: An Index to British Pedigrees: in Continuation of Marshall's Genealogist's Guide. London: Walford Brothers.

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Geoffrey B. Barrow (1977) The Genealogist's Guide: An index to printed British pedigrees and family histories, 1950-1975. London: The Research Publishing Co.

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