Surname Renftlen - Meaning and Origin

Renftlen: What does the surname Renftlen mean?

The last name Renftlen derives from the Germanic surname Reingold, which could be translated into English as "bright gold". Historically, this surname was most likely given to someone who was of noble and affluent status, as gold was a material usually only available to upper-class individuals. It could also refer to people who had brightly coloured hair, as Reingold can also roughly imply "bright-haired".

Renftlen is a unique combination of two distinct words, "rêne," meaning "lake," and "gold," which could have been used to describe someone who had once lived on or near a lake. The word "rêne" is also akin to the modern German word "Reihe," meaning "row or series," which could symbolize the close connection between family members.

Throughout Germany, those with the surname Renftlen can still be found today, with the largest concentrations located in Baden-Wurttemburg, Bavaria and the Rhineland-Platteland.

The fact that the Renftlen surname has managed to remain a prominent name today despite its many potential influences highlights the strength of family lineage and the important role that family ties play in the cultural identity of many across Germany. By bearing this surname, individuals can be proud of their connection to the past and have a constant reminder that despite the passing of time, their ancestry will never be forgotten.

Renftlen: Where does the name Renftlen come from?

Renftlen is a surname of predominantly Germanic origin. It is a name that appears in various regions of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and other countries in central Europe.

In Germany, Renftlen is most commonly found in the northern and western regions, including Bavaria, Wuerttemberg, Thuringia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and some parts of Hesse and Saarland. It is also found in some regions of Austria and the Czech Republic.

In many of these countries, the spelling of the name has been modified over the generations, which is why you may find variations in the spelling, such as Rendlen or Rentflen. As with other surnames that have Germanic-language roots, the original spelling is often difficult to trace.

In the United States, the first record of the Renftlen family can be found in the 1880 U.S. Census. According to this record, the Renftlen family was living in Steuben County, New York at that time. Since then, the Renftlen surname has gradually spread out throughout the United States, with the name appearing in numerous records in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Today, the surname Renftlen is not particularly common, but it still exists in parts of America as well as in Europe. Although it may be a little difficult to track down family members with this name in distant regions, the internet has made it easier to find information on the background and current locations of the Renftlen family.

Variations of the surname Renftlen

Renftlen is an uncommon German surname from the northern regions of Germany, primarily from Holstein and Oldenburg. This surname is derived from the personal name Rends which in German means “Advent”. The spelling variations of Renftlen include Rendlen, Rondlen, Rendl, Ranftlen, and Rentelen, and the surname may also appear as Rendland, Renftel, Renftelen, Ranftl, Ranftle, Rendelen, Rendle, and Rendlemann.

In the Netherlands, the name is spelled Rientsen and is usually derived from the personal name Rienck or Rienk, which is a Flemish and Dutch form of the German name Reinhold. In addition, it is also related to another Dutch surname Rijnders and could ultimately have the same origin as Renfro.

In the United States, the surname is found primarily in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The alternate spellings Rentzel, Rentz, Rentzelf, Ranft, and Randolph are also common in those states. It is possible that the Renftlen name or any of its variants derive from a lost place name somewhere in Germany.

In Prussia, the name is spelled Rentsch and is sometimes found in the form of its compounds Rendelmayer and Rendelmeyer, derived from the personal names Rends and Meier. This is an old name from Prussia and is still associated with the Saronic Gulf islands of Kea and Kythira. In the Czech Republic, the variants Proschutka and Podeschutka can be found and are related to the surname Pruskr.

Lastly, the surname Renftlen is also found in other countries including Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada, France, and Italy. The variant names in these countries are Rofoltan, Refelt, Rentert, Rentfl, and Rendellet.

No matter the variant, all of these surnames are related to the German Advent and could ultimately have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Renftlen

• Lou Anne Renfroe-Hall (American trailblazer, businesswoman, and philanthropist)
• Kelly Renfrow (Former NASCAR driver)
• Paul Renftle (American alpine skier)
• Frank Renftle (American professional minor league baseball player)
• Charles Renfroe (American professional Major League Baseball player)
• Peggy Renfroe (American professional minor league baseball player)
• Sheriff Renfroe (American politician)
• Marshall H. Renfrow (American jazz musician)
• Eddie Renfro (American professional Major League Baseball player and coach)
• G. W. Renfro (American politician)
• Charles J. Renfro (American politician and judge)
• Stephen Wayne Renfro (American country music singer-songwriter)
• Red Renfroe (American light welterweight world champion boxer)
• B. Renfroe (American comic book artist)
• Biff Renfroe (American professional Major League Baseball outfielder)
• Walter Renfroe (American professional golfer)
• Jack Renfroe (American stunt performer and actor)
• Kim Renfroe (American professional drag racer)
• Bernice Renfro (American professional Major League Baseball pitcher)
• Joe Renfro (American gospel music singer, songwriter, and Christian music ambassador)

Other surnames

RenftlRenftle