NameCensus.

UK surname

Reich

A German toponymic surname indicating someone from a settlement or territory ruled by a monarch.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Reich surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 239, ranked #17,322, up from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glamis, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Barnet and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reich is 246 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 117.3%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

239

2016, ranked #17,322

Peak year

2014

246 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reich had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016, ranked #17,322.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Reich surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reich surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reich 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 116 #21,766
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 166 #20,129
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 181 #19,363
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 215 #17,809
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 231 #17,448
2013 modern 241 #17,202
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 239 #17,322

Geography

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Where Reichs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glamis, London parishes, St Pancras and Rathven. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Barnet and Hackney. 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 Glamis Forfar
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Rathven Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 010 Salford
2 Barnet 034 Barnet
3 Hackney 004 Hackney
4 Barnet 037 Barnet
5 Hackney 029 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reich

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reich

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Reich surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Reich 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Reich 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

Reich 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

Reich falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reich 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Reich

The surname REICH originated in Germany and its earliest records date back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "rihhi" which means "ruler" or "king". It is closely related to the modern German word "reich" which translates to "rich" or "wealthy".

In the medieval period, the name REICH was often associated with individuals who held positions of power or authority within their communities. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in old German manuscripts and local records from towns and villages across central Europe.

One notable early bearer of the name REICH was Hermann Reich, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the city of Nuremberg during the late 15th century. His successful business ventures and wealth earned him a degree of influence and respect among the city's elite.

Another historically significant individual with the surname REICH was Johann Reich, a Protestant reformer and theologian who lived in the 16th century. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and played an important role in the early years of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

In the 17th century, a branch of the REICH family settled in the region of Silesia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Prussia. One member of this family, Friedrich Wilhelm Reich, served as a military officer under King Frederick the Great and fought in the Seven Years' War from 1756 to 1763.

As the REICH surname spread throughout Germany and into neighboring countries, it also became associated with various place names and regional variations in spelling. For example, the name was sometimes recorded as "Reiche" or "Reych" in certain areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname REICH include the 19th century German composer Wilhelm Reich, the 20th century psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, and the contemporary German artist Petra Reich, who is known for her large-scale public installations and sculptures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reich families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reich 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. Lanarkshire leads with 19 Reichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 19 5.43x
Angus 16 15.95x
Middlesex 16 1.48x
Renfrewshire 9 10.73x
Morayshire 7 41.62x
Lancashire 6 0.47x
Perthshire 6 12.35x
Westmorland 6 25.22x
Northumberland 5 3.10x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.99x
Kent 3 0.81x
Banffshire 2 8.90x
Cheshire 2 0.84x
Durham 2 0.62x
Yorkshire 2 0.19x
Caithness 1 6.75x
Gloucestershire 1 0.47x
Kincardineshire 1 7.59x
Royal Navy 1 7.75x
Shetland 1 9.04x
Shropshire 1 1.07x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Reichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.67x.

Place Total Index
Barony 13 14.67x
Kinnettles 9 6428.57x
St Pancras London 8 9.18x
Dull 6 618.56x
Levens 6 1714.29x
Tynemouth 5 57.94x
West Greenock 5 33.20x
Dundee 4 10.68x
Glasgow 4 6.43x
Hackney London 4 6.59x
Knockando 4 588.24x
Eastwood 3 58.03x
Bellie 2 263.16x
Cheetham 2 20.88x
Deptford St Paul 2 7.02x
Govan 2 2.31x
Monifieth 2 56.50x
St Marylebone London 2 3.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 5.33x
Alford 1 181.82x
Ashton On Mersey 1 80.65x
Camberwell 1 1.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.90x
Darlington 1 8.04x
Deskford 1 312.50x
Dowdeswell 1 555.56x
Durris 1 263.16x
Folkestone 1 13.95x
Fordyce 1 61.73x
Glamis 1 163.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 7.17x
Kensington London 1 1.66x
Lerwick Gulberwick 1 58.48x
Macclesfield 1 9.42x
Middlesbrough 1 7.16x
North Meols 1 7.95x
Norwood 1 40.32x
Oswestry Rural 1 69.93x
Paisley Middle Church 1 20.49x
Pendleton In Salford 1 6.53x
Salford 1 2.65x
Scarborough 1 10.26x
St Nicholas 1 1666.67x
Urquhart 1 126.58x
Wick 1 20.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 3
Mary 3
Emma 2
Anna 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
E.K.. 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Melanie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
Albert 2
George 2
Henry 2
John 2
A. 1
Augustus 1
Carl 1
Cornelius 1
F.J. 1
Franz 1
Gusta 1
Johann 1
Leopold 1
Louis 1
Max 1
Robert 1
W. 1
Walter 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 Reich households.

FAQ

Reich surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reich surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Reich surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reich surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016. That gives Reich a modern rank of #17,322.

What does the Reich surname mean?

A German toponymic surname indicating someone from a settlement or territory ruled by a monarch.

What does the Reich map show?

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