NameCensus.

UK surname

Reay

A locational surname derived from the village of Reay in Caithness, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 2,602 people recorded with the Reay surname, ranking it #1,712 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,141, ranked #1,640, up from #1,712 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland and St Bees. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Carlisle and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reay is 4,239 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.1%.

1881 census count

2,602

Ranked #1,712

Modern count

4,141

2016, ranked #1,640

Peak year

2014

4,239 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reay had 2,602 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,712 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,141 in 2016, ranked #1,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,655 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Reay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reay surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reay 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 1,524 #1,879
1861 historical 1,599 #1,781
1881 historical 2,602 #1,712
1891 historical 2,816 #1,683
1901 historical 3,426 #1,623
1911 historical 3,655 #1,429
1997 modern 4,080 #1,589
1998 modern 4,187 #1,611
1999 modern 4,222 #1,613
2000 modern 4,171 #1,624
2001 modern 4,065 #1,632
2002 modern 4,172 #1,612
2003 modern 4,015 #1,650
2004 modern 4,017 #1,642
2005 modern 3,937 #1,652
2006 modern 3,961 #1,642
2007 modern 3,944 #1,670
2008 modern 3,971 #1,671
2009 modern 4,086 #1,662
2010 modern 4,195 #1,655
2011 modern 4,162 #1,645
2012 modern 4,156 #1,615
2013 modern 4,187 #1,636
2014 modern 4,239 #1,624
2015 modern 4,196 #1,624
2016 modern 4,141 #1,640

Geography

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Where Reays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Sunderland, St Bees, Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Carlisle, Sunderland and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Sunderland Durham
3 St Bees Cumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 008 County Durham
2 Carlisle 005 Carlisle
3 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
4 County Durham 006 County Durham
5 Northumberland 035 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reay

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Reay is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reay is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reay 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 Reay 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 Reay, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Reay

The surname Reay originates from the northern Scottish county of Caithness. It is derived from the Old Norse words 'rà' meaning a boundary and 'ey' meaning an island, referring to the island of Reay off the coast of Caithness. The name dates back to the 12th century when Vikings settled in the area.

Historical records show the surname Reay appearing in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William de Reay, who is mentioned in a charter from the year 1334.

The Reay family held lands in Caithness for centuries and played a significant role in the history of the region. In the 16th century, Donald Reay, known as the "Crowner of Caithness," was a powerful figure and served as the sheriff of the county.

A notable member of the Reay family was John Reay, born in 1594, who was a Scottish soldier and adventurer. He fought in the Thirty Years' War and later served as a colonel in the Swedish army. He was granted lands in Sweden and his descendants became part of the Swedish nobility.

Another prominent individual with the surname Reay was Alexander Reay, born in 1625. He was a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland, from 1676 to 1689.

In the 18th century, Hugh Reay, born in 1707, was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made a significant contribution to the development of the city of Glasgow. He donated funds for the construction of the Reay Asylum, which provided housing and education for orphaned children.

The name Reay has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as the village of Reay in Caithness and the Reay Forest, which was once part of the Reay family's estates.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reay 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 946 Reays recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.54x.

County Total Index
Durham 946 12.54x
Northumberland 661 17.52x
Cumberland 494 22.62x
Lancashire 110 0.37x
Middlesex 56 0.22x
Staffordshire 46 0.54x
Cheshire 34 0.61x
Yorkshire 26 0.10x
Lanarkshire 23 0.28x
Surrey 22 0.18x
Warwickshire 20 0.31x
Hampshire 17 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 15 2.68x
Essex 14 0.28x
Midlothian 13 0.38x
Westmorland 12 2.15x
Gloucestershire 11 0.22x
Kent 10 0.12x
Shropshire 10 0.46x
Berwickshire 6 1.95x
Derbyshire 6 0.15x
Wigtownshire 6 1.78x
Flintshire 5 0.73x
Roxburghshire 5 1.09x
Worcestershire 5 0.15x
Angus 4 0.17x
Berkshire 3 0.16x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.82x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.09x
Sussex 3 0.07x
Cornwall 2 0.07x
Ross-shire 2 0.29x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Caithness 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 119 Reays recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.37x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 119 18.37x
Gateshead 107 18.94x
Westoe 73 17.07x
Sunderland 59 44.27x
Tanfield 51 56.84x
Monkwearmouth Shore 49 33.27x
Wallsend 46 38.44x
Westgate 45 19.26x
Heworth 44 29.59x
Bedlington 41 32.54x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 38 11.63x
St Cuthbert W O 37 34.76x
Winlaton 35 48.35x
Lamesley 33 81.26x
Byker 32 17.15x
Caldewgate 32 26.75x
Hensingham 32 179.37x
Tynemouth 30 14.84x
Haydon 28 135.66x
Elswick 27 8.96x
Hetton Le Hole 27 28.24x
Workington 26 20.80x
Brampton 24 80.19x
Stockton On Tees 24 6.60x
Ford 22 97.30x
Backworth 21 210.00x
Brandon Byshottles 21 22.22x
Arthuret 20 87.83x
Southwick 20 27.99x
Low Bolton 19 341.73x
Stainton 19 259.92x
Walsall Foreign 19 4.30x
Preston Quarter 18 29.42x
Barrow In Furness 17 4.15x
Chester St Mary On Hill 17 35.39x
Scaleby 17 419.75x
Haswell 16 29.59x
Longbenton 16 10.01x
Penrith 16 19.83x
Stranton 16 6.30x
Tunstall 16 42.59x
Aspatria 15 71.46x
Cowpen 15 17.26x
Crosscanonby 15 20.77x
Hethersgill 15 291.83x
Kyo 15 42.23x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 6.66x
Sebergham 15 310.56x
Seghill 15 81.08x
Tottenham 15 3.71x
Cockermouth 14 30.45x
Hexham 14 23.97x
Haltwhistle 13 71.00x
Harton 13 43.61x
Heddon On Wall 13 282.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 13 6.65x
Toxteth Park 13 1.28x
Tweedmouth 12 25.50x
Whickham 12 17.28x
Bowness Drumburg 11 312.50x
Colwich 11 54.05x
Gretna 11 104.36x
Alnwick 10 15.41x
Benwell 10 24.24x
Birmingham 10 0.47x
Hartlepool 10 9.32x
Kirkdale 10 1.98x
Kirkheaton 10 675.68x
Lambeth 10 0.45x
Lambley 10 160.26x
Wetheral 10 34.58x
Barmston 9 159.57x
Chirton 9 10.54x
Henshaw 9 208.33x
Meldon 9 647.48x
Morpeth 9 20.28x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 9 18.14x
Aston 8 0.45x
Cheltenham 8 2.08x
Portsea 8 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 216
Elizabeth 132
Jane 118
Margaret 94
Sarah 78
Ann 74
Isabella 50
Hannah 36
Annie 35
Alice 28
Catherine 24
Martha 24
Ellen 22
Frances 16
Agnes 15
Dorothy 13
Emily 11
Barbara 9
Eleanor 9
Emma 8
Grace 8
Harriet 8
Eliza 7
Ada 6
Fanny 6
Anne 5
Esther 5
Janet 5
Lydia 5
Margret 5
Margt. 5
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Eliz. 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Isabel 4
Laura 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Abigail 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Christiana 3
Dinah 3
Georgina 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 223
William 172
Thomas 118
George 98
Robert 95
James 75
Joseph 74
Edward 39
Matthew 25
David 17
Richard 16
Isaac 14
Charles 13
Henry 13
Luke 9
Robt. 7
Samuel 7
Tom 7
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Mark 6
Michael 6
Ralph 6
Wm. 6
Alexander 5
Frederick 5
Gabriel 5
Harry 5
Hugh 5
Martin 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
Christopher 4
Abraham 3
Adam 3
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Gibson 3
Jacob 3
Joshua 3
Mathew 3
Philip 3
Rbt. 3
Wilfred 3
Daniel 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Reay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,602 people were recorded with the Reay surname. That placed it at #1,712 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,141 in 2016. That gives Reay a modern rank of #1,640.

What does the Reay surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Reay in Caithness, Scotland.

What does the Reay map show?

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