Raynor
A surname from an old Germanic personal name meaning “mighty army” or “Godlike army.”
The #4,563 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,736 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Raynor is a surname derived from an early Germanic personal name found in forms such as Reginhere, Regenhere, and Rainer. The first element is related to a word for counsel or divine power, while the second element means “army,” so the name has been explained as something like “mighty army” or “Godlike army.” The surname developed from that given name, which appears in medieval records in several spellings.
History
Historical surname forms include Rayner and Raynor, with Raynor especially noted as a later regional spelling. The name is found in medieval English records, and one source notes that Rainerus was a common Domesday form. In modern Britain, Raynor has been especially associated with Nottinghamshire in surname-distribution studies.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One historical source connects the underlying personal name to Regenhere, borne by a son of King Rædwald of East Anglia who died in AD 617.
From the historical record
“RAYNER \ (Teut.) Mighty or Godlike Army RAYNOR / [O.N. Ragttar = O.L.Ger. Regin- heri = A.-Sax. Regenhere [v. under Rain- bird, and -1- O.N. -ar for -har, herr = O.E. here = O.H.Ger. O.L.Ger. heri = Goth. harji-s. army] Regenhere (d. a.d. 617) was the name of a son ot Rsedwald, king of East AngUa^ J Rainer-us is…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)