[Reynold, Rainald, Rainaldus, Ragenald, Raynaldus, Raynoldus, Reinold, Reinoldus, Renoldus, Reginaldus, Reynald, Reynold, Reynaud, Renaut, Raignald, Reignald, Reginalde, Reginald] (m.) Old English Regenweald, compound of regen and weald, both of which mean ‘power’, ‘force’, ‘might’, was not a very common name. After the Norman Conquest it was reinforced by French Reinald or Reynaud from the corresponding Old German Raganald, which became a favourite name. In Middle English it is usually Rainald or Reynold (latinized as Rainaldus, Reynoldus, and occasionally Reginaldus). The surnames Reynold, Reynolds, Reynoldson, Rennell, Reynell, WRennison, Renaud, Renaut are derived from it. In the 13th C such forms as Raignald, Reignald, Reignolde, Reginalde came into use. The reappearance of the g after several centuries of disuse may have been an early example of the effect of antiquarianism on names. Both Reginald and Reynold became much less common after the 15th C. Neither Camden nor Lyford gives them (though they have the German Reinhold), but Reynold has never quite died out in the West country, and Reginald was revived in the 19th C and is now common. See also Ronald. Reginald is often abbreviated to Reg or Reggy; the earliest example of this which has been noted is in C. Reade’s ‘Love me Little, Love me Long’ (1859).

Rainald, Rainaldus, Ragenald, Raynaldus, Raynoldus, Reinold, Reinoldus, Renoldus Domesday Book 1086. Reginaldus Feudal Aids 1284. Reynald Hundred Rolls 1273. Reynold Hundred Rolls 1273. Reynaud Hundred Rolls 1273. Renaut Testa de Neville, or Book of Fees, temp. Hen. III-Edw. I 1379. Raignald The Coventry Leet Book 1424. Reignald The Coventry Leet Book 1444. Reginalde English Register of Oseney Abbey, c. 1460 (E.E.T.S. 133-4) 1460. Reginald or Reynold Oxford University Registers 1566.