NameCensus.

UK surname

Reakes

An English surname derived from the Old English word "hric" meaning ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 268 people recorded with the Reakes surname, ranking it #10,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #10,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reakes is 434 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

268

Ranked #10,542

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

1911

434 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reakes had 268 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 434 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Reakes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reakes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reakes 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 147 #13,084
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 268 #10,542
1891 historical 337 #10,133
1901 historical 410 #9,322
1911 historical 434 #8,740
1997 modern 370 #11,666
1998 modern 396 #11,435
1999 modern 371 #12,101
2000 modern 370 #12,078
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 365 #12,246
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 358 #12,252
2005 modern 349 #12,390
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 328 #13,196
2008 modern 328 #13,319
2009 modern 323 #13,720
2010 modern 319 #14,110
2011 modern 308 #14,356
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 335 #13,720
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Reakes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, London parishes, Wells St Cuthbert In and Out and Chewton Mendip, Emborrow, Binegar, Compton Martin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wells St Cuthbert In and Out Somerset
5 Chewton Mendip, Emborrow, Binegar, Compton Martin Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 010 Mendip
2 Mendip 002 Mendip
3 Mendip 006 Mendip
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Bath and North East Somerset 022 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reakes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reakes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reakes, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Reakes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Reakes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Reakes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reakes is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reakes falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reakes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Reakes

The surname REAKES is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "riec," meaning "smoke" or "misty," potentially referring to someone who lived in a smoky or misty area.

The name is found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a William Reykes is mentioned. In the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, a Robert Reyk is recorded, suggesting an early variant spelling.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname REAKES was John Reakes, born around 1480 in Oxfordshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a church warden in the village of Stanton St. John.

During the 16th century, the REAKES name appeared in several parish records across southern England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire. This suggests that the name may have originated or gained prominence in this region.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the REAKES surname was William Reakes, born in 1612 in Berkshire. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to hold significant property and influence in the area for generations.

Another historical figure was Elizabeth Reakes, born in 1670 in Oxfordshire. She was a prominent Quaker and authored several religious tracts, becoming a respected voice within the Quaker community of her time.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent individual was Sir John Reakes, born in 1714 in Buckinghamshire. He was a successful lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Aylesbury from 1768 to 1780.

In the 19th century, the REAKES name gained recognition through the artistic achievements of Richard Reakes, born in 1815 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned landscape painter and exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

It is worth noting that the REAKES surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Reakes Lane in Berkshire and Reakes Farm in Oxfordshire, further solidifying its historical ties to these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reakes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reakes 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. Somerset leads with 169 Reakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.16x.

County Total Index
Somerset 169 40.16x
Middlesex 23 0.88x
Surrey 22 1.73x
Kent 14 1.57x
Glamorgan 12 2.64x
Wiltshire 11 4.76x
Gloucestershire 5 0.98x
Staffordshire 4 0.45x
Dorset 3 1.75x
Hampshire 2 0.37x
Berkshire 1 0.51x
Monmouthshire 1 0.53x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Evercreech in Somerset leads with 80 Reakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7920.79x.

Place Total Index
Evercreech 80 7920.79x
Bruton 17 1024.10x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 16 471.98x
Camberwell 12 7.19x
Ystradyfodwg 11 27.55x
Hammersmith London 9 13.98x
Shepton Mallet 9 190.68x
Poulshot 8 2666.67x
West Lydford 8 3333.33x
Ashwick 7 1029.41x
St Pancras London 7 3.33x
Wincanton 7 322.58x
Lambeth 6 2.63x
Littlebourne 6 882.35x
North Wootton 6 2400.00x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 45.37x
Clifton 4 15.43x
Kilmersdon 4 192.31x
Limehouse London 4 13.94x
Walsall Foreign 4 8.78x
West Pennard 4 588.24x
Bromley 3 22.08x
Gillingham 3 101.69x
Headcorn 3 223.88x
Kensington London 3 2.06x
Croydon 2 2.83x
Ditcheat 2 277.78x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 53.91x
Woking 2 26.04x
Addington 1 416.67x
Bedminster 1 2.53x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.85x
Castle Cary 1 54.64x
Chartham 1 45.05x
Christchurch 1 17.09x
Clevedon 1 22.83x
Gelligaer 1 9.62x
Holy Rood 1 92.59x
New Windsor 1 15.15x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.97x
West Ashton 1 370.37x
West Tarring 1 151.52x
Yeovil 1 11.70x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 16
John 11
William 11
Albert 10
Henry 9
James 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Herbert 6
Edwin 5
Mark 5
Walter 5
Frank 4
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Oliver 2
Stephen 2
Alpheus 1
Arnold 1
Arthur 1
Aubrey 1
Austin 1
Christopher 1
Clarence 1
Fred 1
Frederich 1
Gilbert 1
Job 1
Meak 1
Noah 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Seward 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Theadore 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Paul 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Reakes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reakes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 268 people were recorded with the Reakes surname. That placed it at #10,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reakes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Reakes a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Reakes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "hric" meaning ridge.

What does the Reakes map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Reakes 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.