NameCensus.

UK surname

Reith

Scottish surname meaning a place where bracken grows.

In the 1881 census there were 531 people recorded with the Reith surname, ranking it #6,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 607, ranked #8,637, down from #6,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Garlogie and Elrick, Calderdale and Gloucester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reith is 645 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.

1881 census count

531

Ranked #6,470

Modern count

607

2016, ranked #8,637

Peak year

1998

645 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reith had 531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016, ranked #8,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 637 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Reith surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reith surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reith 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 386 #6,216
1861 historical 401 #6,399
1881 historical 531 #6,470
1891 historical 535 #7,026
1901 historical 637 #6,748
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 604 #8,102
1998 modern 645 #7,957
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 637 #8,054
2001 modern 635 #7,916
2002 modern 642 #8,032
2003 modern 621 #8,112
2004 modern 622 #8,126
2005 modern 595 #8,323
2006 modern 582 #8,469
2007 modern 594 #8,418
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 614 #8,451
2010 modern 607 #8,710
2011 modern 607 #8,613
2012 modern 619 #8,387
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 625 #8,533
2015 modern 611 #8,619
2016 modern 607 #8,637

Geography

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Where Reiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Drumoak and Fetteresso. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Garlogie and Elrick, Calderdale, Gloucester, Leeds and Turriff. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Drumoak Aberdeen
5 Fetteresso Kincardine

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Garlogie and Elrick Aberdeenshire
2 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
3 Gloucester 011 Gloucester
4 Leeds 041 Leeds
5 Turriff Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reith

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reith

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reith, 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 Reith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Reith 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Reith is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Reith is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reith falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reith 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 Reith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Reith

The surname Reith has its origins in Scotland and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rith," meaning a small stream or rivulet. This suggests that the name likely originated as a locational name for someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reith can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists people who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document includes the name "Wautier de Rethe," suggesting the name was already in use in Scotland by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Reith appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, where a "John Reith" is mentioned in 1549. The name was also found in the Parish Registers of Perthshire, where a "Robert Reith" was recorded in 1616.

The surname Reith has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir John Reith (1889-1971), a Scottish broadcaster and the first Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He played a crucial role in shaping the early days of the BBC and is widely regarded as a pioneer in public service broadcasting.

Another notable figure was John Reith (1836-1914), a Scottish civil engineer and inventor. He is credited with designing and constructing the Forth Bridge in Scotland, one of the most significant engineering achievements of the 19th century.

In the 17th century, a "John Reith" was listed as a landowner in the Scottish County of Fife in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1632. This suggests that the Reith family had achieved a certain level of prominence and land ownership by that time.

The Reith surname can also be traced back to places like Perthshire and Fife in Scotland, where it was likely derived from local place names containing the word "rith" or variations of it, such as "Rethy" or "Reithy."

Furthermore, in the 18th century, a "James Reith" was recorded as a merchant in Edinburgh in the records of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, indicating the family's involvement in trade and commerce.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reith 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 242 Reiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.93x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 242 50.93x
Kincardineshire 68 108.83x
Lanarkshire 55 3.31x
Angus 51 10.73x
Midlothian 39 5.67x
Middlesex 11 0.21x
Kent 10 0.57x
Dunbartonshire 9 6.53x
Fife 8 2.63x
Yorkshire 6 0.12x
Banffshire 5 4.70x
Durham 3 0.20x
Glamorgan 3 0.34x
Orkney 3 5.31x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Selkirkshire 2 4.31x
Ayrshire 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.21x
Ross-shire 1 0.71x
Stirlingshire 1 0.53x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 65 Reiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.52x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 65 65.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 38 42.74x
Govan 34 8.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 10.85x
Newhills 18 184.99x
Durris 13 726.26x
Fintray 12 662.98x
Laurencekirk 12 331.49x
Drumoak 11 670.73x
Fyvie 11 141.94x
St Vigeans 11 42.87x
Fetteresso 10 102.15x
Peterculter 10 298.51x
Kilmaronock 9 552.15x
Montrose 9 31.24x
Banchory Ternan 8 148.15x
Brechin 8 42.83x
Monquhitter 8 162.60x
Skene 8 253.97x
Barony 7 1.67x
Dunfermline 7 14.99x
Echt 7 305.68x
Ellon 7 107.03x
Fordoun 7 200.00x
Glasgow 7 2.38x
Kintore 7 169.49x
Nigg 7 135.40x
Rayne 7 309.73x
Arbroath 6 38.10x
Greenwich 6 7.35x
Logie Pert 6 342.86x
Rathen 6 120.48x
Kinellar 5 490.20x
Liff Benvie 5 6.93x
Dunnottar 4 90.91x
Hamilton 4 8.64x
Keithhall 4 258.06x
Marnoch 4 69.93x
South Leith 4 5.17x
Dundee 3 1.69x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 3 75.00x
Fraserburgh 3 22.42x
Glenbervie 3 175.44x
Hackney London 3 1.04x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 10.07x
Old Monkland 3 4.56x
Paddington London 3 1.59x
St Marylebone London 3 1.10x
Strathdon 3 129.87x
Stromness 3 70.92x
Alford 2 77.22x
Belhelvie 2 61.54x
Bradford 2 1.63x
Holbeck 2 5.94x
Manchester 2 0.73x
Maryculter 2 106.38x
New Deer 2 23.26x
Penarth 2 22.91x
Stow 2 298.51x
Woolwich 2 3.09x
Aberlemno 1 56.82x
Alvah 1 41.67x
Beckenham 1 4.37x
Benholm 1 37.31x
Brighton 1 0.57x
Cardiff St John 1 3.43x
Chapel Of Garioch 1 29.59x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.83x
Crathie Braemar 1 35.21x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.74x
Falkirk 1 2.26x
Foveran 1 27.78x
Inverkeillor 1 33.90x
Kensington London 1 0.35x
Lumphanan 1 50.00x
Nether Hallam 1 1.45x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 4.07x
Scoonie 1 15.20x
Tormoham 1 2.21x
Wandsworth 1 2.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Carey 1
Charlot 1
Chistina 1
Elizabeth 1
Elsie 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Minie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
John 2
Alexander 1
Angus 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edward 1
Geo.Alex 1
Grossvenor 1
James 1
Roger 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 Reith households.

FAQ

Reith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 531 people were recorded with the Reith surname. That placed it at #6,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016. That gives Reith a modern rank of #8,637.

What does the Reith surname mean?

Scottish surname meaning a place where bracken grows.

What does the Reith map show?

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