Re: specific origin of surname....
by Andy ;—) (guest)
1/27/2006, 2:58 PM
This looks like the Italian form of the first name Renatus, meaning "born again". It is a specifically "Christian" coinage, which did not exist in Ancient Rome, before Christianity took over.
According to tradition, St. Renatus was Bishop of Naples in the 4th/5th century. More likely Renatus of Sorrent was a 6th (?) cent. eremite, who was later venerated as bishop.
"Renati" is a term used in 1. Peter 1,23 in the Latin bible to denote the new quality of a life as a Christian.