WREN FAMILY HISTORY

SOME NOTES ON THE POSSIBLE ORIGINS OF THE SURNAME WREN

Some authors believe that the surname Wren arose as a diminutive - a surname used to describe someone 'as small or busy as a wren' from the Old English wraenna.

Others have suggested a link to Ralph de Raines, who was apparently granted lands in County Durham by William, Duke of Albany. However, no evidence has so far surfaced of any descendants of this individual in County Durham, with the only known lines in Essex and Yorkshire, and no evidence appears to exist for the evolution of the name in this manner.

Another possibility which has been raised is of a link to the de Warenne family. William (I) de Warenne arrived in England from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and his family flourished in their new home, intermarrying with many members of the new Anglo-Norman nobility. His granddaughter Ada de Warenne married into the Scottish royal house, and was mother to Malcolm IV and William I, Kings of Scotland. However, again, there is no known evidence for the presence of this family in Country Durham nor of the evolution of the name in this direction.

If anyone has any other insights in this area, or any documentary evidence to support the evolution of the name in County Durham, it would be very interesting to incorporate some further notes here.

Any inquiries relating to this page should be addressed to Ian Hall.