name 'Rinny Muir' ?.....

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:47 pm

From 17th century - William Gilles and Rinny or Rimy Muir had at least three children, William, Jannet and Alexander, b. 1635, 1638, 1641.

Anybody heard the name 'Rinny' before? I'm looking at one of the scans and it's quite clear.

Jenny

Muriel · Post by **Muriel** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:04 pm

Hi Jenny

Could it be a short form of Catherine? A friend of my mother's was always known as Rina (pronounced with as "aye" rather than Reena).

Muriel

Bron · Post by **Bron** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:03 am

Could be Irene or Renee. Irene is the association I know commonly.

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:14 am

Thanks - a couple of other people have also suggested Renee. Given that we're talking about early to mid 17th century, does anybody have info on names then? It seems to me that Renee may be more likely. I don't think many names are abbreviated in these birth records...

Jenny

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:17 am

Hello Jenny,

On FreeCen and FreeBMD there is only one Rinny. Possibly a misspelling of Renny as there are more of that name, although not many more in the early 19th Century.

Here’s a site with 17th Century English names.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/engPost1600.shtml

Any chance the name derived from the place Kilrinny in Fife? Is there any connection to the area?

I don’t think I would discount the possibility that it’s a nickname rather than a misspelling. K/Catherine must stand a chance if that was the case. The spelling of the child’s name at Baptism probably more usually turns out to be correct because that’s the name he can be stuck with.

Just a few thoughts,
Alan

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:16 am

Hi Alan,
Remember this is 17th century - there is immense variation in spellings!

I've found another Renny Muir who apparently married John Wand and they have a daughter Jean born 1650, in Linlithgow. An IGI member has estimated her birth around 1622 which would be too late for 'my' Rinny Muir, but this seems to deserve further investigation. Will let you know more if I find more!

Jenny