NameCensus.

UK surname

Reek

A surname derived from the old English word "rec" meaning smoke or vapor.

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Reek surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Lowdham and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Rotherham and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reek is 186 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.0%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1861

186 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reek had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 186 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Reek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reek surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reek 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 136 #19,110
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Reeks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Lowdham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Alfreton and Balderton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Rotherham and West Lindsey. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Lowdham Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Balderton Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 004 Melton
2 Rotherham 003 Rotherham
3 Rotherham 002 Rotherham
4 Melton 002 Melton
5 West Lindsey 006 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reek

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reek

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Reek 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

Reek is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reek 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 Reek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Reek

The surname "REEK" is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rec," which means "smoke" or "vapor." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a smoky area or worked in a profession that involved smoke, such as a blacksmith or a baker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Richard le Reke." This entry provides evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period in England.

In the 14th century, the name took on various spellings, such as "Reek," "Reeke," and "Rek." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records during that era.

The surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Reek in Derbyshire and Reek in Yorkshire. It is possible that some individuals adopted the name based on their place of residence or origin.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Reek (c. 1480-1551), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in the early 16th century.

Another prominent figure with this surname was John Reek (1572-1642), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Winwick in Lancashire.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of St. Peter's Church in Liverpool, where it was spelled as "Reeke."

During the 18th century, a notable individual named Thomas Reek (1720-1790) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, known for his philanthropic efforts in the region.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of William Reek (1838-1904), an English engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of agricultural machinery.

Throughout history, the surname "REEK" has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, although its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with strong associations to smoke, vapor, and specific geographic locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reek families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reek 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 48 Reeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.80x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 48 33.80x
Lincolnshire 17 10.09x
Derbyshire 11 6.67x
Middlesex 9 0.85x
Surrey 8 1.56x
Kent 7 1.95x
Cheshire 6 2.58x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.50x
Dorset 1 1.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowdham in Nottinghamshire leads with 20 Reeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7407.41x.

Place Total Index
Lowdham 20 7407.41x
Alfreton 11 219.56x
Bestwood Park 8 3200.00x
Wimbledon 8 138.89x
Balderton 7 1794.87x
Glentham 5 3333.33x
Wispington 5 12500.00x
Granby Sutton 4 2857.14x
Honington 4 6666.67x
Islington London 4 3.92x
Ratcliffe London 4 68.73x
Stockport 4 33.42x
Elston 3 1764.71x
Greenwich 3 17.89x
Newark Upon Trent 3 58.82x
Lewisham 2 10.43x
Liscard 2 47.73x
Spalding 2 59.88x
Benwick 1 344.83x
Chalk 1 833.33x
East Stoke 1 1250.00x
Erith 1 28.25x
Farnsfield 1 263.16x
Norwood 1 41.49x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.72x
Rand 1 5000.00x
Weymouth 1 76.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Ann 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Amy 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Elisa 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.S. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
George 6
Henry 4
James 4
Samuel 4
Robert 3
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Grossit 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Karl 1
Mathew 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Reek surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reek surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Reek surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Reek a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Reek surname mean?

A surname derived from the old English word "rec" meaning smoke or vapor.

What does the Reek map show?

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