NameCensus.

UK surname

Reel

An occupational surname for someone who made or used reels, such as in textile manufacturing or fishing.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Reel surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, St Dunstan Stepney and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Hillingdon and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reel is 234 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 145.8%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

1861

234 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reel had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 234 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Reel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reel 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 81 #19,457
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Reels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, St Dunstan Stepney, Batley, Camborne and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Hillingdon, Birmingham and Stockport. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 017 Hounslow
2 Hillingdon 031 Hillingdon
3 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
4 Birmingham 111 Birmingham
5 Stockport 003 Stockport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reel

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reel, 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 Reel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Reel 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Reel is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reel 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

Reel 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 Reel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Reel

The surname REEL originated in England, first appearing in records during the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "regol" meaning "a reel or roller for winding thread or yarn." The name likely referred to someone who worked with reels or rollers, perhaps in the textile industry or a related trade.

One of the earliest known records of the name is in the Feet of Fines, a legal document from 1292, which mentions a Robert le Reel in Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contains a reference to a Henry le Reel in Norfolk. These early spellings, with the "le" prefix, indicate the name's occupational origins.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including Reel, Reele, and Reelle. The Chancery Rolls of 1392 list a John Reel from Cambridgeshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 record a William Rele in Derbyshire. These variations in spelling were common during this period, as standardized spelling was not yet established.

The surname can also be traced to place names, such as Reel near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, or Reel in Staffordshire. The connection between the occupational and geographic origins of the name is not entirely clear, but it is possible that individuals took on the surname after migrating from these locations.

Notable individuals with the surname REEL throughout history include:

1. Sir Nathaniel Reel (1602-1678), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Taunton during the Commonwealth period. 2. John Reel (1688-1757), an English clergyman and author of several theological works, including "A Treatise on the Sacraments." 3. Elizabeth Reel (1793-1864), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in the Oregon Territory, known for her memoir detailing the journey along the Oregon Trail. 4. William Reel (1818-1892), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. 5. Henry Reel (1861-1938), an American architect and designer of numerous buildings in New York City, including the iconic Plaza Hotel.

While the surname REEL may not be as common as some others, its history can be traced back to medieval England, where it emerged as an occupational name in the textile industry or related trades. Over the centuries, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, clergymen, pioneers, and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reel 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Reels recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 11 2.35x
Lancashire 10 1.80x
Surrey 10 4.39x
Yorkshire 8 1.72x
Midlothian 3 4.78x
Kent 2 1.25x
Warwickshire 2 1.69x
Devon 1 1.03x
Glamorgan 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 8 Reels recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.18x.

Place Total Index
Bury 8 126.18x
Huddersfield 6 88.76x
Mile End Old Town 6 81.19x
Walton On Thames 6 571.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 11.90x
Hackney London 3 11.43x
Aston 2 6.15x
Camberwell 2 6.69x
Murston 2 1428.57x
Wimbledon 2 78.13x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 62.89x
Devonport 1 89.29x
Follifoot 1 1250.00x
Hammersmith London 1 8.67x
Liverpool 1 2.96x
Spotland 1 16.21x
St George Bloomsbury 1 37.17x
Swansea St Thomas 1 121.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Angelina 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Nera 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 2
Henry 2
James 2
John 2
Robert 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jno.H. 1
Joseph 1
Norman 1
Norris 1
Raith 1
Samuel 1
Talbot 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Reel households.

FAQ

Reel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Reel surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Reel a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Reel surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who made or used reels, such as in textile manufacturing or fishing.

What does the Reel map show?

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