UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or watercourse.
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Reas surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Beaulieu and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reas is 122 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.7%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
122 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Reas surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Reas surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 37 | #31,398 |
| 1901 | historical | 3 | #34,063 |
| 1911 | historical | 6 | #33,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Beaulieu, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberystruth and Llanelly. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 2 | Beaulieu | Hampshire |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Llanelly | Carmarthenshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Reas surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reas, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Reas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Reas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Reas is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Reas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname REAS has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "reas," which means "a rush" or "a plant resembling a rush." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who lived near an area overgrown with rushes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name REAS can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1199, which mentions a Richard Reas. Another early reference is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, where a William Reas is listed.
The name REAS was also present in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landholders in England. This record includes several individuals with the surname, such as John Reas of Oxfordshire and Robert Reas of Warwickshire.
In the 14th century, the name REAS appeared in various spellings, including Rees, Reese, and Reece. One notable example is John Rees, a Welsh landowner and military leader who fought alongside Edward the Black Prince during the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname REAS was concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. Notable individuals from this period include:
1. Thomas Reas (c. 1530 – 1592), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of Bampton in Oxfordshire. 2. William Reas (c. 1560 – 1635), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Cirencester, Gloucestershire. 3. Elizabeth Reas (c. 1585 – 1645), a Puritan author and diarist who documented the religious conflicts of her time.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the REAS surname spread to other parts of England, as well as to Scotland and Wales. A few notable figures from this period include:
1. John Reas (1751 – 1827), a Scottish engineer and inventor who developed an early steam-powered printing press. 2. Mary Reas (1795 – 1872), an English philanthropist and social reformer from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. 3. William Reas (1803 – 1879), a Welsh artist and painter known for his landscapes of the Welsh countryside.
Throughout its history, the surname REAS has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, trade, religious leadership, and the arts. While not among the most common surnames in England, it has maintained a presence in various regions of the country for over eight centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reas surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 2 Reas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 2 | 7.67x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 15.34x |
| Dorset | 1 | 17.39x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 3.53x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.14x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 4.52x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 1.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishop Auckland in Durham leads with 2 Reas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Auckland | 2 | 571.43x |
| Longbenton | 2 | 363.64x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 13.57x |
| Govan | 1 | 14.27x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 73.53x |
| Longfleet | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 31.06x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Reas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Reas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Reas households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Butchers Apprentice | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Dom | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Smith (Blk) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Reas surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Reas a modern rank of #36,392.
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or watercourse.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Reas bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.