Surname Raymond - Meaning and Origin

Raymond Ancestry: Discovering a Mosaic of Cultural and Geographical Roots through iGENEA DNA test

Participating in the comprehensive iGENEA DNA test was enlightening, revealing some surprises surrounding my ancestry and the origins of my surname, Raymond. From expected European roots to surprising Jewish connections and relations to historical figures, unraveling the Raymond ancestry has been an exploration into an unexpectedly diverse cultural and geographical background.

R. Raymond

Raymond: What does the surname Raymond mean?

The surname Raymond is of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient personal name "Raginmund". This name is composed of two elements: “ragin”, which means “advice” or “counsel", and “mund”, which means “protection”. Therefore, the overall meaning of Raymond is generally recognized as "protector" or "guarded by counsel".

However, it could also have a French origin. In French, Raymond is also an old personal name composed of the Germanic elements “ragin” (counsel) and “mund” (hand or protector). It was introduced to Britain by the Normans and was popular in the Middle Ages.

The surname Raymond, as with many other surnames, began being used during the Middle Ages as a way to differentiate between individuals with the same name. Over time it became hereditary, carrying on within families.

It is worth noting that the meaning and origin of a surname can vary, largely based on geographical locations and historical contexts. Therefore, dissimilar families with the Raymond surname may not share the same origin or meaning of the name.

Raymond: Where does the name Raymond come from?

Raymond is a very common surname in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Germany. According to the US census, Raymond is the 97th most common surname in the United States, with more than 290,000 individuals who list the name as their surname.

In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Mississippi has the highest number of people bearing the name, with nearly 40,000 individuals living in the state with the surname. Louisiana has the second highest number of individuals with the surname, with over 32,000 individuals.

In Canada, the name is most commonly found in the province of Quebec, where over 49,000 individuals bear the name. In Quebec, the name is often found in the cities of Montreal and Quebec City, as well as the rural areas surrounding them.

In England, the surname is most popular in the counties of Worcestershire, London, and Surrey. In France, the surname is most common in Ile-de-France, Rhone, and Loire. Meanwhile, in Spain, the surname is mainly found in Andalusia, Castilla-Leon, and Madrid, and is less commonly found in the rest of the country.

Overall, the surname is very widespread, but it is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Raymond

The most common variants, spellings, and surnames for Raymond are: Raymonds, Rayment, Raymand, Ramond, Ramondt, Rayman, Reimond, Raimond, Reymond, Reymund, Raimund, Raimunds, Rainmund, Raments, Ramont, Raimont, Raymont, Reymont, Raimonts, Ramonts, Raymonts, Reymonts, Ramundt, Ramant, Rament, Reimont, Reimonts.

Raymond is of French origin and is derived from the Old German name "Raginmund". This name is composed of two elements, "ragin" meaning counsel and "mund" meaning protector. It can be traced back to the Visigoths who invaded Spain in the 5th century. From the Visigoths, it spread to the Franks and eventually to France.

It first appeared in England in the 11th century with William Raginmundus reported in 1130. Some variations of this name such as Raimond and Rayment became popular when the Normans invaded England in 1066. The numbers of individuals bearing the Raymond name increased significantly after the Norman Conquest of Wales in the 12th century. Many Welsh names were given as bonuses to the Normans who had proven loyal to King William the Conqueror.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Raymond name often appeared as Ramond, Raymonds, and Raimond. In addition, numerous immigrants from France, Spain, Germany, and Britain have brought about other variations and spellings of the name. Today, Raymond remains a popular surname in the English-speaking world.

Famous people with the name Raymond

• Raymond Burr: an iconic actor famous for starring in both Perry Mason and Ironside.
• Raymond Jennings: a famous celebrity criminal defence attorney, having defended the likes of Paris Hilton and many athletes in court.
• Emma Raymond Honan: an international award-winning journalist best known for her coverage of Central America on the BBC.
• Cam Raymond: a professional American football player currently signed to the Baltimore Ravens.
• Raymond Chandler: a renowned author and screenwriter, creator of the iconic detective Philip Marlowe.
• Raymond Floyd: a professional golfer who accumulated four major championship wins throughout the course of his career.
• Raymond Baxter: a pioneering television presenter, renowned for his hosting of Tomorrow's World and a number of avionic documentaries.
• Raymond Aron: the influential French philosopher and sociologist whose work focused on political sociology and intellectual history.
• Raymond O'Connor: a notable Irish character actor who is best known for his role in Angela's Ashes.
• Raymond Holliwell: a renowned author and teacher of the New Thought movement, and best known for his work, Working with the Law.

Other surnames

RaymonRaymont