NameCensus.

UK surname

Reah

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Reah surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Monkwearmouth and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Northumberland and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reah is 404 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.5%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

1998

404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reah had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 257 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Reah surname distribution map

The map shows where the Reah surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Reah surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reah over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 120 #15,144
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 257 #12,658
1997 modern 376 #11,533
1998 modern 404 #11,261
1999 modern 400 #11,439
2000 modern 400 #11,402
2001 modern 394 #11,344
2002 modern 404 #11,353
2003 modern 371 #11,901
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 348 #12,410
2006 modern 347 #12,515
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 351 #12,661
2009 modern 365 #12,558
2010 modern 379 #12,483
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 358 #12,952
2014 modern 359 #13,025
2015 modern 352 #13,109
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Reahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Monkwearmouth, Newcastle All Saints, Bishop Wearmouth and Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Northumberland, Wakefield and Bassetlaw. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Gateshead Durham
2 Monkwearmouth Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow) Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 011 South Tyneside
2 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
3 South Tyneside 001 South Tyneside
4 Wakefield 030 Wakefield
5 Bassetlaw 015 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reah

These lists show first names that appear often with the Reah surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reah, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Reah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Reah household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Reah is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reah is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reah falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Reah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Reah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reah surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 143 Reahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.27x.

County Total Index
Durham 143 25.27x
Northumberland 20 7.07x
Yorkshire 15 0.80x
Lancashire 8 0.35x
Middlesex 6 0.32x
Essex 1 0.27x
Renfrewshire 1 0.68x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 30 Reahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.52x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 30 93.52x
Monkwearmouth Shore 17 153.85x
Whitburn 17 1287.88x
South Shields 14 277.78x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 44.88x
Stranton 10 52.49x
Fulwood 8 327.87x
Monkwearmouth 7 129.15x
Byker 6 42.89x
Coxlodge 6 279.07x
Crathorne 6 3529.41x
Ratcliffe London 6 57.14x
Southwick 6 111.94x
Pickton 5 7142.86x
Stockton On Tees 5 18.33x
Norton 4 192.31x
Ryhope 4 101.78x
Sunderland 4 40.04x
West Brunton 4 5714.29x
Bishopwearmouth 3 6.18x
Greatham 3 625.00x
Lartington 3 2142.86x
Longbenton 3 25.02x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 3 555.56x
Esh 2 48.54x
Abbey 1 4.45x
Brandon Byshottles 1 14.10x
Camberwell 1 0.82x
East Ham 1 14.35x
Hart 1 72.46x
Hylton 1 100.00x
Jesmond 1 25.13x
Middlesbrough 1 4.07x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Reah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 10
Isabella 9
Jane 8
Sarah 7
Ann 5
Margaret 3
Catherine 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Barbra 1
Bella 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Lizzie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Meggie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Reah surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 18
John 15
Thomas 11
James 10
Joseph 7
George 6
Robert 5
Alfred 2
Bryan 2
Charles 2
Cuthbert 2
Henry 2
Jacob 2
Jeremiah 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Elexander 1
G. 1
Georg. 1
Gilbert 1
Glanville 1
Hudson 1
Jonathan 1
Weightman 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Reah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Reah surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Reah a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Reah map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Reah bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.