Reneau
A French surname probably built from a personal name, with forms found in French and French-influenced regions.
The #9,865 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 94,158 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Reneau is most likely a French surname derived from a given name, probably from a regional or dialect form related to René, itself from Latin Renatus meaning “born again.” The ending -eau is a familiar French surname pattern and can reflect a local spelling or pronunciation development rather than a separate meaning of its own. In some cases, names of this type arose as patronymics, identifying someone as the descendant or family of a man named René.
History
The surname is uncommon, but it fits a wider pattern of French surnames formed from personal names and carried into North America through French settlement, migration, and later movement from French-speaking communities. In the United States, bearers may also descend from families whose spelling was stabilized in local records rather than in France itself. Because rare surnames often show multiple spellings, Reneau may be related to other forms built on René.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The core personal name behind Reneau, René, ultimately comes from a Latin word meaning “born again.”