Renwick to Saltoun

The archaic pronunciation of surnames has not always developed at the same pace as our language, and can cause confusion. The table below gives guidance on the pronunciation of a selection of English surnames - establishing the traditional pronunciation of a surname will ensure that you do not cause offence.

Surname Pronunciation
Renwick Renn-ick
Reresby Rears-bi
Reuter Roy-ter
Rhyl Rill
Rhys Rees or Rice
Riddell Riddle
Rideau Reed-owe
Roborough Roe-bra'
Roche Roach or Rosh
Roden Roe-den
Rolfe Roaf (as in 'loaf')
Rolleston Roll-ston
Romilly Rum-illy
Romney Rumney
Ronaldshay Ron-alld-shay
Rotherwick As spelt
Rothes Roth-is
Rous, Rouse Rowse (as in 'grouse')
Rowley Roe-li
Roxburghe Rox-bro
Ruabon Ru-a-bon
Ruthin Ruth-in
Ruthven Rivven
Sacheverall Sash-ever-al
Sacheverell Sash-ev-rell
St Aubyn S'nt Aw-bin
St Clair Sinclair or as spelt
St Cyres S'nt Sires (to rhyme with 'fires')
St John Sin-jun
St Leger Sill-inger or St Leger
St Levan S'nt Leaven (as in 'leaven' for bread)
St Maur S'nt More
Salisbury Sawls-bri
Salkeld Saul-keld
Saltoun Salt-on

 

 

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