Surname Rainbold - Meaning and Origin

Rainbold: What does the surname Rainbold mean?

The last name Rainbold is of German origin. The name is derived from "Rainhold," which is a combination of two words-"rain" and "hold" and translates as "protector of the rain." According to one source, the name was initially given to someone who lived in an area where rain was an important natural resource. This could have been a person who took it upon themselves to protect and manage the rain's supply.

The name launched with Rainboldt in the late 16th century. From there, the Rainbold surname spread across Europe as its carriers moved throughout the continent in search of better farming and industrial opportunities.

By the early 19th century, the Rainbold name had found homes in Germany, France, and England, and had traveled as far as the United States in some cases. It was one of the most common German surnames in America during this time, and its prevalence has since decreased.

Today, the Rainbold name is still carried by many families in Europe, as well as the United States, where it was particularly common in the 19th century. It still signals the pride of a family's German roots, and is a reminder of the important role that rain has in sustaining life on earth.

Rainbold: Where does the name Rainbold come from?

The last name Rainbold is a surname of Germanic origin. It is most common today in Germany, as well as nearby countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Beyond that region, it can be found throughout Europe, as well as in the United States.

The surname is derived from the Germanic personal name Reinhold, composed of two elements. The first is the old German word "rein," which means "pure." This was combined with "hold," which means "brave or strong." Thus, the surname literally means "pure and strong."

Between 1991 and 2019, the last name Rainbold was most popular in Germany, where it ranked in the top 1000. Similarly, it was among the top 2000 most popular surnames in Austria over this same time period. In the United States, it occupies a much lower rank, and is not among the top 5000 most common surnames.

This last name has a few variant spellings, such as Rainbolt, Rheinbold, and Rheinbolt. Regardless of the spelling, it continues to be relatively uncommon outside of Germany and its neighboring countries.

Variations of the surname Rainbold

The surname Rainbold is of German origin and is derived from Raimond. This name was typically used in Ancient Germanic cultures to make reference to a “strong protector.” Variants and spellings of this surname include Raimund, Raimundt, Raimond, Raymund, Raimbalt, Reinbold, Rainboldt, Reinbald, Reimond, Reimund, Raimondt, Remynd, Ramand, Raymbold, Rainbold, Raymbolt, Reimand, Rainbald, Reymond, Raymbald, Raimbald, and Raimmold.

Surnames of similar origin include Rameyer, Reemers, Rammes, Raimann, Ramin, Reemann, Raman, Ramey, and Reimers. These last two names are believed to originate from the German word ‘ramm’ which means ‘eminent’ or ‘strong’. Other surnames of similar origin are Reimold, Riemann, Rembold, Raehrig, Rahrig, Reimonder, and Riemers.

The distribution of the Rainbold surname is most heavily concentrated in Germany, although there are small concentrations in the United States, Austria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. It is uncertain how many people bear the Rainbold surname today, however, due to the decreasing prevalence of traditional German names.

Famous people with the name Rainbold

• Dan Rainbold: an Australian basketball professional who represented his country at the 2008 FIBA Oceania Championship Games.
• Sean Rainbold: a former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played for seven seasons in the major leagues.
• Joshua Rainbold: a professional American soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.
• Alex Rainbold: a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for several teams, including the Atlanta Thrashers and the Phoenix Coyotes.
• Simon Rainbold: a Swedish jazz guitarist, composer and producer.
• David Rainbold: an American actor best known for his role in the popular comedy series, Third Rock from the Sun.
• Alison Rainbold: a Canadian actress, best known for her portrayal of Officer Nicole Haught in the science fiction comedy-drama series Wynonna Earp.
• Gary Rainbold: a British bass player who is part of the jazz-funk outfit The Funky Fish.
• Juda Rainbold: a French politician and former Member of the European Parliament, who served from 2009 to 2014.
• Greg Rainbold: an opera singer from the United States who is best known for performing the title role in the world premiere of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Cold Sassy Tree.

Other surnames

Rainbolt