Renaud
A French surname from a byname or personal name ultimately tied to old Germanic forms meaning “wise counsel” or “strong rule.”
The #5,688 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,664 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Renaud is best explained as a French form of an old Germanic personal name, usually traced to elements like regin ad ad ad ad ad ad ad- meaning “counsel” or “decision” and adwald- meaning “rule” or “power.” In historical spelling, it appears alongside forms such as Reginald, Reynold, Renault, and Renaut. Some older references also connect the name with the Old French word renard, “fox,” but that is generally treated as a separate nickname tradition rather than the main surname origin here.
History
The name is well attested in medieval English records in French-looking spellings, reflecting Anglo-Norman influence after the Conquest. It spread in several spellings, including Renaud, Renaut, Renault, and Renauld, and sits in the broader family of Reynold/Reginald names. In English-language surname books, it is usually grouped with the popular medieval baptismal name Reynold rather than with the fox nickname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries sometimes discussed Renaud near the fox nickname “le Renaud,” showing how medieval bynames and personal names could overlap in spelling and interpretation.
From the historical record
“[Fr. renard, a fox : etymology as above] RENAUD RENAULD RENAULT RENAUT (A.-Fr.-Teut.) the O.Teut. Regin- wald, Reginwalt, etc.: v. Reynold, Reginald. John Renaud. —”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)