NameCensus.

UK surname

Ream

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold cream, or a variant of Reaume, a French topographic name.

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Ream surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oundle, Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe) and Doncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, South Northamptonshire and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ream is 126 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.6%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2009

126 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ream had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ream surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ream surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ream 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 117 #20,757
1997 modern 113 #25,106
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Reams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oundle, Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe), Doncaster, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Pontefract. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, South Northamptonshire, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds and South Holland. 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 Oundle Northamptonshire
2 Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe) Lincolnshire
3 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
2 South Northamptonshire 006 South Northamptonshire
3 Kingston upon Thames 003 Kingston upon Thames
4 Leeds 093 Leeds
5 South Holland 006 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ream

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ream

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ream, 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 Ream surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ream 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ream is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ream is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ream falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ream is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ream

The surname "REAM" has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ream," which means "cream" or "thick cream." It is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a fair complexion or was a producer of dairy products.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "REAM" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a person named William Reme is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that time period.

The name "REAM" is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1301, indicating its presence in different regions of England. Some records suggest that the name may have originated in the village of Ream, located in the county of Lincolnshire, lending credence to the theory that it could be a locational surname.

A notable bearer of the surname "REAM" was Sir John Ream (1558-1628), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Lincolnshire. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was involved in local governance during the reign of King James I.

Another historical figure with the surname "REAM" was William Ream (1670-1745), a merchant and shipowner from the town of Hull in Yorkshire. He played a significant role in the maritime trade of his time and was known for his successful business ventures.

In the 18th century, the Ream family had a presence in the village of Haxey, Lincolnshire. Robert Ream (1721-1792) was a prominent farmer and landowner in the area, and his descendants continued to live in the region for several generations.

The surname "REAM" also appears in historical records from other parts of England, such as the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Gloucestershire, indicating its widespread distribution across the country.

Towards the end of the 16th century, some members of the Ream family migrated to the American colonies, contributing to the spread of the surname in the New World. One notable individual was John Ream (1784-1858), a farmer and politician from Ohio who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Throughout its history, the surname "REAM" has been associated with various occupations, including farming, trade, and public service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its bearers across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ream families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ream 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. Yorkshire leads with 26 Reams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 26 3.02x
Cambridgeshire 21 38.20x
Lincolnshire 11 7.93x
Cheshire 7 3.65x
Devon 5 2.77x
Middlesex 5 0.58x
Lancashire 3 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.56x
Surrey 2 0.47x
Sussex 2 1.37x
Leicestershire 1 1.04x
Norfolk 1 0.75x
Northamptonshire 1 1.22x
Warwickshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wisbech St Peter in Cambridgeshire leads with 12 Reams recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Wisbech St Peter 12 434.78x
Bramhall 7 886.08x
Bramley In Rotherham 6 5000.00x
Sutton St Mary 6 458.02x
Dringhouses 5 3571.43x
St Pancras London 5 7.16x
Upwell 5 1250.00x
Elm 4 740.74x
Holme On Spalding Moor 4 714.29x
York St Mary 4 112.36x
Nottingham St Mary 3 9.91x
Plymouth Charles The 3 37.69x
Brighton 2 6.78x
New Sleaford 2 224.72x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 14.37x
Selby 2 111.11x
Swineshead 2 434.78x
Ulverston 2 66.67x
Allerton Bywater 1 212.77x
Birmingham 1 1.37x
Camberwell 1 1.80x
Crumpsall 1 41.15x
Cumberworth 1 227.27x
Falsgrave 1 78.74x
Great Bowden 1 113.64x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 24.94x
Lambeth 1 1.32x
Peterborough 1 16.92x
South Milford 1 322.58x
Thorner 1 357.14x
Tydd St Mary 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ann 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Emily 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jeanett 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Olline 1
Sophy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Smith 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fosbrook 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Jonathan 1
Patrick 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ream surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ream surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Ream surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ream surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Ream a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Ream surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold cream, or a variant of Reaume, a French topographic name.

What does the Ream map show?

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