NameCensus.

UK surname

Reavey

An English surname derived from a place name with Gaelic origins.

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Reavey surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, up from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Whisky Isles and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reavey is 246 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 197.5%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

2009

246 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reavey had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Reavey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reavey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reavey 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 115 #21,878
1901 historical 141 #18,718
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 224 #16,888
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 235 #16,379
2005 modern 232 #16,480
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 226 #17,238
2009 modern 246 #16,597
2010 modern 246 #16,975
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 236 #17,477
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Reaveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Whisky Isles, South Tyneside and Manchester. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 004 Breckland
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Breckland 005 Breckland
4 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
5 Manchester 049 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reavey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reavey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Reavey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Reavey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Reavey 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

Reavey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reavey falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reavey 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Reavey

The surname Reavey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Raghaillaigh," which means "descendant of Raghallach." The name is believed to have originated in County Cavan, Ireland, during the 11th or 12th century.

The Reaveys were part of the Ui Briuin dynasty, a prominent family in the ancient kingdom of Bréifne. They held lands around Lough Ramor and the surrounding areas in what is now County Cavan. The name is often associated with the Gaelic clans and families of this region.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Reavey can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1176, the Annals refer to a chieftain named "Raghallaigh Ua Raghallaigh," which is believed to be an early spelling of the name Reavey.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Reaveys were involved in various conflicts and power struggles in Ulster. One notable figure was Phillip Reavey, a military commander who fought against the English forces during the Irish Confederate Wars in the 1640s.

In the 18th century, the name Reavey appeared in several parish records and land deeds across County Cavan and neighboring counties. John Reavey (1712-1790) was a prominent landowner and magistrate in Cavan during this period.

The 19th century saw the Reaveys spread across Ireland and beyond. Patrick Reavey (1809-1864) was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Belfast, while Michael Reavey (1830-1901) was a Catholic priest and educator who served in the Archdiocese of Armagh.

Other notable Reaveys include James Reavey (1880-1957), an Irish nationalist and member of the Gaelic League, and Seamus Reavey (1910-1985), a renowned Irish language scholar and author from County Cavan.

Throughout its history, the surname Reavey has maintained its strong connection to its Irish roots, particularly in the counties of Cavan, Monaghan, and Fermanagh, where the name is still prevalent today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reavey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reavey 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. Lancashire leads with 65 Reaveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 65 7.11x
Dunbartonshire 5 24.15x
Middlesex 3 0.39x
Renfrewshire 3 5.03x
Cumberland 1 1.51x
Lanarkshire 1 0.40x
Surrey 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broughton In Salford in Lancashire leads with 14 Reaveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 167.46x.

Place Total Index
Broughton In Salford 14 167.46x
Ardwick 10 121.21x
Liverpool 10 18.01x
Hulme 8 41.93x
Manchester 7 17.03x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 82.64x
Dumbarton 5 173.61x
Clerkenwell London 3 16.50x
Salford 3 11.16x
West Greenock 3 27.99x
West Derby 2 7.48x
Barrow In Furness 1 8.05x
Bispham With Norbreck 1 526.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 6.89x
Glasgow 1 2.26x
Layton With Warbreck 1 29.85x
Toxteth Park 1 3.23x
Wimbledon 1 23.75x
Workington 1 26.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Adelina 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
M. 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 4
John 4
Thomas 3
Henry 2
Joseph 2
William 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Hy.Arth. 1
J.S.Robert 1
Jno. 1
Michael 1
Oswald 1
P. 1
Patrick 1
W. 1

FAQ

Reavey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reavey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Reavey surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reavey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Reavey a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Reavey surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name with Gaelic origins.

What does the Reavey map show?

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