Rainger

This name with the variant spellings Ranger, Ringer and Rengger, derives from the Olde French personal name Rainger or Reinger, composed of the German element "ragin" counsel, plus "geri", a spear. Introduced into Britain by the Normans, the name was first recorded in the early 12th Century, "Ricardus filius (son of) Reigner" (London, 1221). He adopted his father's name as a surname within a few years, (see below). The name appears as Rainger and Ranger in London Church Registers from the early 17th Century. On June 13th 1606, Thomas son of William Rainger was christened at St. Andrew's, Holborn and William Rainger and Esther Hardy were married in 1801 at St. George's, Hanover Square, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Renger or Reinger, sheriff of London, which was dated 1225, in the "Early Charters of St. Paul's Cathedral", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as the Frenchman, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.