Late 16th century; earliest use found in John Bridges (?1536–1618), bishop of Oxford. Apparently a variant (by metathesis) of remuneration, probably arising by folk-etymological association with words in numer-. Compare post-classical Latin renumeratio, variant of remuneratio.

Late 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Nashe (d. c1601), writer. From re- + numeration. Compare post-classical Latin renumeratio recapitulation.