NameCensus.

UK surname

Reekie

A surname derived from the Scottish term "reeky" meaning smoky or foggy.

In the 1881 census there were 726 people recorded with the Reekie surname, ranking it #5,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,201, ranked #4,954, up from #5,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Falkland, Cupar and St. Monance. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Monans and Pittenweem, The Glens and Thornton and Kinglassie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reekie is 1,235 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.4%.

1881 census count

726

Ranked #5,026

Modern count

1,201

2016, ranked #4,954

Peak year

2010

1,235 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reekie had 726 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,201 in 2016, ranked #4,954.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 958 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Reekie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reekie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reekie 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 390 #6,155
1861 historical 351 #7,278
1881 historical 726 #5,026
1891 historical 830 #4,894
1901 historical 958 #4,903
1911 historical 228 #13,759
1997 modern 1,168 #4,827
1998 modern 1,193 #4,910
1999 modern 1,196 #4,944
2000 modern 1,210 #4,866
2001 modern 1,189 #4,830
2002 modern 1,181 #4,967
2003 modern 1,146 #5,007
2004 modern 1,156 #4,978
2005 modern 1,180 #4,829
2006 modern 1,204 #4,757
2007 modern 1,207 #4,794
2008 modern 1,221 #4,777
2009 modern 1,226 #4,856
2010 modern 1,235 #4,924
2011 modern 1,223 #4,899
2012 modern 1,189 #4,950
2013 modern 1,200 #4,980
2014 modern 1,196 #5,034
2015 modern 1,202 #4,964
2016 modern 1,201 #4,954

Geography

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Where Reekies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Falkland, Cupar, St. Monance, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Monans and Pittenweem, The Glens, Thornton and Kinglassie, Anstruther and Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Falkland Fife
2 Cupar Fife
3 St. Monance Fife
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Monans and Pittenweem Fife
2 The Glens Dundee City
3 Thornton and Kinglassie Fife
4 Anstruther Fife
5 Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reekie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reekie

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Reekie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reekie is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reekie falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reekie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Reekie

The surname REEKIE originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old Scots word "rekie," meaning "smoky" or "misty." This name likely referred to someone who lived in a smoky or hazy area, perhaps near a peat bog or a place where smoke from fires was common.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name REEKIE can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a certain Willelmus Reky is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by that time.

The REEKIE surname is closely associated with the city of Edinburgh, where it is thought to have originated. The city's nickname, "Auld Reekie" (Old Smoky), is derived from the same root word as the surname, referring to the smoke that once hung over the city from countless fires and chimneys.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named John Reekie was a member of the Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, which governed the city's trade guilds. He was born around 1520 and played a significant role in the city's affairs during his lifetime.

Another notable bearer of the REEKIE surname was Sir Robert Reekie (1605-1674), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1658 to 1660. He was an influential figure in the city's governance and played a crucial role in the negotiations leading to the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

In the literary world, Henrietta Reekie (1816-1897) was a Scottish novelist and poet who wrote under the pen name "Grace Ruby." She was born in Edinburgh and published several novels and collections of poetry during her lifetime.

The name REEKIE has also been associated with places in Scotland, such as Reekie Linn, a picturesque waterfall located near the town of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway. This place name is likely derived from the same Old Scots word that gave rise to the surname.

Throughout the centuries, the REEKIE surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Reky, Reikie, Reeky, and Reikie, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spelling in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reekie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reekie 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. Fife leads with 474 Reekies recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.69x.

County Total Index
Fife 474 113.69x
Middlesex 47 0.67x
Perthshire 43 13.60x
Midlothian 41 4.35x
Angus 23 3.53x
Lanarkshire 12 0.53x
Selkirkshire 11 17.26x
Lancashire 10 0.12x
Surrey 10 0.29x
Yorkshire 10 0.14x
Clackmannanshire 7 12.03x
Morayshire 5 4.57x
Kinross-shire 4 22.47x
Renfrewshire 4 0.73x
Staffordshire 4 0.17x
Warwickshire 4 0.23x
Roxburghshire 3 2.35x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.31x
Shropshire 2 0.33x
Devon 1 0.07x
Kincardineshire 1 1.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.39x
West Lothian 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Monance in Fife leads with 121 Reekies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2429.72x.

Place Total Index
St Monance 121 2429.72x
Falkland 54 823.17x
Dysart 45 160.26x
Cupar 30 165.47x
Leslie 27 255.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 6.06x
Kirkcaldy 21 101.55x
Islington London 15 2.20x
Dundee 14 5.75x
Kilrenny 14 181.58x
Abbotshall 13 83.44x
Perth West Church 13 86.67x
Auchterderran 12 114.50x
North Leith 12 27.49x
St Andrews 12 63.26x
Auchtertool 11 635.84x
Poplar London 11 8.28x
Selkirk 11 61.28x
Beath 10 75.87x
Burntisland 10 85.76x
Kinghorn 10 112.99x
Dairsie 9 532.54x
Auchterarder 8 90.70x
Ratcliffe London 8 20.57x
Alloa 7 24.81x
Auchtermuchty 7 125.00x
Burley In Wharfdale 7 113.64x
Dunfermline 7 10.92x
Glasgow 7 1.73x
Kemback 7 339.81x
Kennoway 7 184.70x
Liff Benvie 7 7.07x
Putney 7 21.81x
Strathmiglo 7 140.56x
Anstruther Easter 6 199.34x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 4.52x
Rhynd 6 833.33x
Kingsbarns 5 260.42x
Newburgh 5 94.34x
Dunbarney 4 219.78x
Elgin 4 18.79x
Great Bolton 4 3.61x
Hopton Coton 4 119.05x
Kinross 4 65.57x
Leamington Priors 4 9.15x
Leuchars 4 75.90x
Paisley Middle Church 4 12.59x
St Luke London 4 3.54x
Wemyss 4 22.68x
Halifax 3 2.93x
Hawick 3 10.51x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.70x
Perth East Church 3 10.07x
Pittenweem 3 58.37x
St Pancras London 3 0.53x
Barony 2 0.35x
Bromley London 2 1.29x
Camberwell 2 0.44x
Ceres 2 39.92x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 10.21x
Govan 2 0.36x
Kilconquhar 2 40.32x
Largo 2 36.97x
Abdie 1 42.19x
Ballingry 1 38.91x
Denny 1 7.24x
Edinburgh Old 1 17.45x
Markinch 1 7.07x
Maryhill 1 2.24x
Methven 1 21.60x
Perth St Pauls 1 13.66x
Rattray 1 13.59x
Sidbury 1 833.33x
South Leith 1 0.94x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 1 29.59x
St Leonards 1 53.48x
St Vigeans 1 2.84x
Sutton 1 4.03x
Taunton St James 1 6.05x
Westminster St 1 3.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Annie 3
Emma 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Amy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Issabella 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
Thomas 6
James 4
William 4
Arthur 3
George 2
Henry 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Balfour 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Ro. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Lister 1
Herbert 1
Jared 1
Jno. 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Wm.Percy 1

FAQ

Reekie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reekie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 726 people were recorded with the Reekie surname. That placed it at #5,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reekie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,201 in 2016. That gives Reekie a modern rank of #4,954.

What does the Reekie surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish term "reeky" meaning smoky or foggy.

What does the Reekie map show?

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