NameCensus.

UK surname

Reece

An anglicized Welsh surname derived from Rhys, meaning "ardor, enthusiasm" or referring to someone who lived near rushes.

In the 1881 census there were 2,614 people recorded with the Reece surname, ranking it #1,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,145, ranked #1,637, up from #1,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Stroud and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reece is 4,265 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.6%.

1881 census count

2,614

Ranked #1,704

Modern count

4,145

2016, ranked #1,637

Peak year

2010

4,265 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reece had 2,614 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,145 in 2016, ranked #1,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Reece surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reece surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reece 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 1,590 #1,813
1861 historical 1,369 #2,095
1881 historical 2,614 #1,704
1891 historical 2,436 #1,934
1901 historical 3,136 #1,791
1911 historical 3,454 #1,518
1997 modern 3,984 #1,627
1998 modern 4,230 #1,593
1999 modern 4,244 #1,600
2000 modern 4,217 #1,597
2001 modern 4,148 #1,580
2002 modern 4,187 #1,603
2003 modern 4,070 #1,619
2004 modern 4,058 #1,619
2005 modern 4,057 #1,602
2006 modern 4,014 #1,617
2007 modern 4,058 #1,616
2008 modern 4,088 #1,619
2009 modern 4,176 #1,620
2010 modern 4,265 #1,622
2011 modern 4,183 #1,636
2012 modern 4,109 #1,631
2013 modern 4,196 #1,628
2014 modern 4,245 #1,622
2015 modern 4,152 #1,640
2016 modern 4,145 #1,637

Geography

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Where Reeces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Trevethin with Pontypool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Stroud, Bradford, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 003 Flintshire
2 Stroud 012 Stroud
3 Bradford 004 Bradford
4 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
5 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reece

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reece

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

Reece is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Reece

The surname Reece originates from Wales, deriving from the Welsh personal name Rhys, which is thought to be a cognate of the Old English name Rees or Res. The name Rhys itself is believed to have originated from the Welsh word "ardderchog," meaning "illustrious" or "noble."

Historically, the name Reece has been recorded in various forms, including Rees, Ryce, Rhyce, Ryece, and Reyce. One of the earliest known mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Res" and "Resse."

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Rhys ap Gruffydd, also known as The Lord Rhys, who was a powerful Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Deheubarth from 1155 to 1197. Another prominent individual was Sir Rhys ap Thomas (c. 1449–1525), a Welsh soldier and landholder who played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses and later became a close ally of King Henry VII.

The name Reece has also been associated with various place names throughout Wales, such as Reece's Valley in Glamorgan and Reece's Cottage in Monmouthshire. In some cases, the name may have derived from these place names rather than directly from the personal name Rhys.

Other notable individuals with the surname Reece include:

1. John Reece (1510–1584), a Welsh scholar and translator who produced the first printed book in the Welsh language. 2. Robert Reece (1838–1891), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 40th Governor of Texas from 1887 to 1891. 3. Ambrose Reece (1887–1972), a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in the early 20th century. 4. Martha Reece (1899–1989), an American actress who appeared in various films and television shows during the 1930s and 1940s. 5. Lizette Woodworth Reece (1856–1935), an American poet and author known for her works celebrating the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region.

While the surname Reece has its roots in Wales, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Welsh migration and settlement. The name continues to hold historical significance and is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reece families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reece 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 328 Reeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 328 1.08x
Monmouthshire 216 11.71x
Cheshire 215 3.82x
Herefordshire 208 19.88x
Staffordshire 208 2.41x
Shropshire 176 7.98x
Middlesex 172 0.67x
Worcestershire 108 3.24x
Gloucestershire 105 2.10x
Warwickshire 99 1.54x
Yorkshire 95 0.38x
Glamorgan 80 1.80x
Surrey 76 0.61x
Durham 71 0.94x
Kent 69 0.79x
Flintshire 59 8.60x
Somerset 53 1.29x
Essex 41 0.81x
Derbyshire 26 0.65x
Devon 21 0.40x
Radnorshire 20 9.71x
Carmarthenshire 19 1.77x
Norfolk 17 0.43x
Cumberland 16 0.73x
Montgomeryshire 16 2.74x
Cornwall 15 0.52x
Denbighshire 9 0.93x
Leicestershire 9 0.32x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.74x
Suffolk 6 0.19x
Dorset 5 0.30x
Midlothian 5 0.15x
Sussex 5 0.12x
Argyllshire 4 0.56x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.39x
Hampshire 4 0.08x
Wiltshire 4 0.18x
Berkshire 3 0.16x
Lincolnshire 3 0.07x
Northumberland 3 0.08x
Renfrewshire 3 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.12x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.29x
Northamptonshire 2 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x
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. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 44 Reeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 44 2.05x
Toxteth Park 34 3.32x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 30 34.42x
Manchester 29 2.13x
Ashton Under Lyne 28 4.23x
Dukinfield 27 10.37x
Kington 26 100.35x
Bedwellty 25 7.68x
Tudhoe 22 33.12x
Aston 21 1.19x
Caldicot 21 171.57x
Camberwell 21 1.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 21 2.30x
Trevethin 20 11.48x
Liverpool 19 1.03x
West Bromwich 18 3.65x
Bedminster 17 4.40x
Birkenhead 17 3.79x
Shrewsbury St Mary 17 19.54x
West Derby 17 1.92x
Lambeth 16 0.72x
St Marylebone London 16 1.17x
Stanton Lacy 16 84.03x
Stayley 16 24.85x
Waltham Holy Cross 16 33.98x
Handsworth 15 7.07x
Holywell 15 17.42x
Ledbury 15 41.74x
Shire Newton 15 225.23x
Swansea Higher 15 32.41x
Wednesbury 15 6.97x
Bristol Temple 14 42.49x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 2.91x
Paddington London 14 1.49x
West Ham 14 1.26x
Darlaston 13 10.92x
Kensington London 13 0.92x
Kidderminster Borough 13 6.67x
Kingswinford 13 4.16x
Little Hulton 13 25.93x
Oldham 13 1.33x
Reepham With Kerdiston 13 281.39x
Roath 13 6.44x
Wolstanton 13 4.97x
Barton Upon Irwell 12 5.26x
Deptford St Nicholas 12 17.37x
Goodrich 12 183.49x
Gradley 12 74.53x
Greenwich 12 2.95x
Hawarden Saltney 12 125.13x
Hulme 12 1.90x
Islington London 12 0.49x
Panteg 12 41.31x
Wolverhampton 12 1.81x
Barnsley 11 4.22x
Chelsea London 11 1.43x
Christchurch 11 19.27x
Darlington 11 3.75x
Edgbaston 11 5.51x
Grosmont 11 180.03x
Llangadock 11 37.10x
Nantmel 11 102.04x
Rowley Regis 11 4.58x
Salford 11 1.24x
Sittingbourne 11 16.00x
Urmston 11 55.98x
Westminster St John 11 3.54x
Whitechapel London 11 4.37x
Ashford 10 11.79x
Berkeley 10 35.91x
Clowne 10 62.97x
Dawley 10 12.47x
Hereford St Owen 10 28.94x
Macclesfield 10 3.99x
Penterry 10 3125.00x
Tarporley 10 84.82x
West Newchurch 10 1041.67x
Workington 10 7.95x
Hanmer 9 170.13x
Whitchurch 9 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 197
Sarah 116
Elizabeth 115
Jane 61
Eliza 51
Ann 42
Ellen 37
Emma 35
Martha 35
Annie 34
Hannah 33
Alice 29
Margaret 26
Emily 24
Catherine 20
Clara 17
Maria 15
Caroline 14
Edith 13
Harriet 13
Kate 13
Fanny 12
Charlotte 10
Lizzie 10
Florence 9
Frances 9
Louisa 9
Ada 8
Anne 8
Amelia 7
Esther 7
Rebecca 7
Selina 7
Agnes 6
Isabella 6
Julia 6
Lucy 6
Rose 6
Ethel 5
Gertrude 5
Matilda 5
Rosa 5
Susan 5
Laura 4
May 4
Phoebe 4
Anna 3
Eliz. 3
Janet 3
Jessie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 175
William 158
Thomas 117
George 83
James 77
Edward 54
Charles 43
Joseph 43
Henry 42
David 37
Richard 36
Alfred 23
Samuel 22
Albert 19
Edwin 19
Robert 19
Walter 16
Herbert 14
Frank 12
Arthur 11
Benjamin 10
Francis 10
Frederick 10
Harry 8
Daniel 7
Fred 7
Wm. 7
Ernest 6
Tom 6
Isaac 5
Thos. 5
Leonard 4
Mathew 4
Owen 4
Peter 4
Reece 4
Abraham 3
Edmund 3
Elijah 3
Enoch 3
Evan 3
Hugh 3
Jonathan 3
Lewis 3
Moses 3
Stephen 3
Willie 3
Eli 2
Elisha 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Reece surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reece surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,614 people were recorded with the Reece surname. That placed it at #1,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reece surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,145 in 2016. That gives Reece a modern rank of #1,637.

What does the Reece surname mean?

An anglicized Welsh surname derived from Rhys, meaning "ardor, enthusiasm" or referring to someone who lived near rushes.

What does the Reece map show?

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