Surname Rainer - Meaning and Origin

Discovering Familial Roots with iGENEA: A Deep Dive into the Heritage of the Rainer Surname

With iGENEA's DNA testing services, I embarked on an unexpected journey of ancestral discovery. The comprehensive analysis revealed my Rainer roots tracing back to the Celtic Tribes of Iron Age Europe, thus imbuing the name Rainer with magnificent historical significance.

I. Rainer

Rainer: What does the surname Rainer mean?

The last name Rainer is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old Germanic personal name "Raginhari" which is a compound of two elements: "ragin" meaning counsel or advice, and "hari" meaning army or warrior. Thus, the name could roughly be interpreted as "army counsel" or "warrior advice". It is a patronymic surname, originally used to denote "son of Rainer". Over time, it has transformed in spelling and pronunciation in various regions. It is also found in other cultures and countries in different forms like Rainier in French and Reginar in Flemish. It was popular among early Christians, possibly due to Saint Rainier of Pisa, a 12th century saint. In English-speaking countries, the name gained popularity in the 19th Century. Famous people with this surname include the actress Luise Rainer, who won two Academy Awards in the 1930s.

Rainer: Where does the name Rainer come from?

Rainer is a surname of German or German-Jewish origin. Today, it is most prevalent in Germany and Austria. It is also common in Switzerland, and in Central and Eastern European countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. In North America, it can be found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. People with the Rainer surname have migrated to many parts of the world, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America.

In Germany, there are candidates for mayor with the name Rainer in several cities, such as Essen, Erfurt, and Kiel. According to a 2017 study on surnames, there are over 21,000 people in Germany with the Rainer surname. Bearing the name is also common in Austria, where one of the country’s prominent political figures in recent times has been Mr. Werner Faymann, the former Federal Chancellor of Austria. In the U.S., there were over 14,000 individuals with the last name in the 2000 U.S. census.

The Rainer surname is also firmly established in places like the United Kingdom, where the name is found in greater numbers than in the countries of its origin. This is largely due to the legacy of the Huguenot and Jewish diasporas, as well as other immigration patterns over the centuries. In the UK today, there are many people with the Rainer surname, and its variants, such as Riner and Reiner.

Variations of the surname Rainer

The surname Rainer is of German origin and has several different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most popular alternate spelling of Rainer is Rayner. This surname could be spelled Raynor, Riner, Rainor, Reiner, Reinor, or Rhineer. In some cases, the surname could appear as Rainers, Rainers, Reiners, Reiners, Rhineers, or Rhiners.

Rainer is also the Anglicized form of the German surname Rainer, which is a variant of the more common German surname Reiniger or Reinegger. Reiner and Reinegger can be found in records from the 1600s onwards and are derived from the older Middle High German word rinasc (“rinasc” meaning “to clean, to purify”).

In German, Rainer, Reiner, Reinegger, and Reiniger are all used to refer to a person who cleans or purifies something. Other common variations are Reinier, Reineke, Reinhold, Rainhold, Raymund, Raimond, Rainhard, Rainhardt, and Rhein.

The surname Rainer can also be found in Poland in the form Rynarz or Rynar, and in Austria in the form Reiner. In certain regions of Germany, Rainer can also be found with more complex spellings. These include Reinerz, Reiners, Reinhartz, and Reinholds.

The surname Rainer is popular in Northern Europe and can also be found in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Overall, there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rainer. This surname is very popular across many countries and appears to have been around for a very long time.

Famous people with the name Rainer

• Lieselotte Rainer: A celebrated Austrian-American actress who earned an Academy Award for her performance in The Good Earth (1937).
• Yul Brynner: A Russian-born actor with the birth name Yuliy Borisovich Bryner, who changed his last name to Rainer after his adoption by his stepfather.
• Gustav Rainer: Former Mayor of the town of Oberndorf in Lower Austria.
• Karl Rainer: Austrian actor and writer best remembered for his role in a 1960’s movie, entitled The Great Escape.
• Vienna Rainer: An American artist, author, and cultural figure who was a prominent leader of the early 20th century Art Deco movement.
• Florian Rainer: Austrian professional snowboarder, who is a five-time FIS Snowboarding World Championship gold medalist.
• Mignon Rainer: American novelist of the mid-20th century, known for her historical fiction and mystery stories.
• Mathias Rainer: Austrian Director and Producer, best known for his films Storm (1982) and Inside (2010).
• Curt Rainer: Austrian Alpine skier and former World Cup champion.
• Barry Rainer: American businessman and philanthropist who was formerly the CEO of the Texas-based Rainer Insurance Group.

Other surnames

RainelRainertRainesRainey

Comments or additions to the name "Rainer"

27.08.2024
I will turn 60 Jan this comin year. This is a great read. Thank everyone.My home is Northern VA. Our family name also panhandle WV. Our last name spelling surname .Raigner.
The .G. in Raigner is silent.