This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: landbturner1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.ayr.general/13824.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I can tell you that. It actually comes from the Clan Ranald whose ancesters were Lord of the isles but even they have to have come from even further north. I found out that a lot of them married lassies from Orkney in St Orla in Kirwall. So if you went back centuries it has to have come from Norway. In Gaelic it is "Raonull" and from the Old Norse it is "Rognvaldr". (put two dots above the 'o'). So it should be pronounced - Royn-val-da. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.