Welcome... This Web Site is dedicated to the Reneau - Reynaud - Reno and Mikesell families.  For years my mother worked on Reneau and Mikesell genealogy. She spent hours in libraries looking up every Reneau and Reno she could find... and drove countless miles to cemeteries looking for headstones with the Reneau or Mikesell name... when we went on trips she even contacted Reneau's in phone books.

It was through her efforts I learned most of the Reneau families in America were descended from General Louis de Reynaud, born about 1600 in France. In 1688 his son, Louis de Reynaud, his brother Benjamine and their families were the first Reynauds (Reneau or Reno) to come to America.

When Great Britian and the American Colonies went to war with France (French and Indian war), Lewis de Reynaud, granson of the General and son of the American Louis, dropped the 'de' from his name and changed the spelling from Reynaud to Reno.

At the time of the Revolutionary war, with France as an American ally, some members of the family again changed the spelling... this time to Reneau. And if that wasn't confusing enough... after changing the spelling from Reynaud to Reno... and then to Reneau... some members of the family switched spellings between Reneau and Reno from one generation to the next.

For example, the parents might spell their last name Reneau... and some of the children would use Reneau while others used Reno.  Or, if the parents last name was Reno... some of the children would use Reno but others would use Reneau.

Many thanks to all who sorted that mess out. I'm just glad it was finished before I came along.

So.... should I be a Reneau... or a Reno... or should we all be Reynaud? I suppose that's something you'll have to decide for yourself.

I hope you enjoy your visit....