NameCensus.

UK surname

Rey

A Spanish surname derived from the Latin word "rex," meaning "king," likely referring to a person's regal bearing or authority.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Rey surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, up from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Willesden and Walton, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Helensburgh North, Hillingdon and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rey is 321 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.4%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

2016

321 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rey had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 139 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rey 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 139 #13,659
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 220 #17,249
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 220 #17,129
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 251 #15,861
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 271 #15,511
2010 modern 294 #14,940
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 311 #14,464
2015 modern 317 #14,183
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Reys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Willesden, Walton, West, Merthyr Tydfil and Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Helensburgh North, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Slough and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 Bedminster Somerset
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Walton, West Cambridgeshire
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Helensburgh North Argyll and Bute
2 Hillingdon 033 Hillingdon
3 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Slough 013 Slough
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 015 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rey

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Rey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rey 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rey 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

Rey 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

Rey falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rey

The surname Rey originates from Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "rey," which means "king." It is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages when it was common for surnames to be derived from occupations or descriptive terms.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Rey can be found in the 12th century Cartulario de San Cugat del Vallés, a collection of medieval documents from the Monastery of Sant Cugat in Catalonia, Spain. The name appears in several entries, suggesting that it was already in use during that time period.

In the 13th century, the surname Rey is found in the Libro de la Montería, a medieval hunting treatise commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. The book mentions several individuals with the surname, including Juan Rey, who was a huntsman in the service of the king.

During the 14th century, the surname Rey gained prominence in various parts of Spain. One notable individual was Pero Rey, a Galician nobleman who served as a courtier to King Pedro I of Castile in the mid-1300s.

In the 15th century, the surname Rey is recorded in the Archivo General de Indias, a collection of documents related to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One such entry mentions a certain Juan Rey, who was among the early settlers in Puerto Rico in the late 1400s.

Moving into the 16th century, the surname Rey is associated with several notable figures, including Pedro Rey, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the 1520s.

Another notable individual with the surname Rey was Alonso Rey, a Spanish painter and sculptor who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for his religious works, which can be found in various churches and monasteries throughout Spain.

In the 18th century, the surname Rey was also present in the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One example is José Antonio Rey, a Venezuelan military leader who played a significant role in the Venezuelan War of Independence in the early 1800s.

Overall, the surname Rey has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the Spanish culture and language. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been associated with various notable individuals throughout history, from noblemen and courtiers to artists and military leaders.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rey 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 29 Reys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 2.52x
Somerset 24 12.95x
Lancashire 9 0.66x
Staffordshire 9 2.32x
Dorset 6 7.94x
Durham 6 1.75x
Worcestershire 6 3.99x
Glamorgan 5 2.49x
Surrey 5 0.89x
Huntingdonshire 2 8.75x
Kent 2 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.29x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.44x
Cumberland 1 1.01x
Devon 1 0.42x
Lanarkshire 1 0.27x
Leicestershire 1 0.78x
Lincolnshire 1 0.54x
Monmouthshire 1 1.20x
Northumberland 1 0.58x
Renfrewshire 1 1.12x
Shropshire 1 1.01x
Sussex 1 0.52x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portishead in Somerset leads with 10 Reys recorded in 1881 and an index of 724.64x.

Place Total Index
Portishead 10 724.64x
Ilton 8 4705.88x
Kensington London 8 12.50x
Walsall Foreign 7 34.88x
Ashford 6 659.34x
Bishopwearmouth 6 20.42x
Bromsgrove 6 118.58x
Knowle St Giles 6 15000.00x
St Anne Soho London 6 91.32x
Burstock 5 7142.86x
Liverpool 4 4.82x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 20.77x
Castleton 3 21.99x
Camberwell 2 2.72x
Lambeth 2 1.99x
St George Hanover 2 13.32x
St Marylebone London 2 3.25x
Wednesfield 2 34.97x
Westminster St John 2 14.27x
Woodhurst 2 1538.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 5.02x
Ardingly 1 161.29x
Basford 1 13.99x
Bradford 1 3.62x
Broadwinsor 1 204.08x
Burnham 1 112.36x
Chelsea London 1 2.88x
Cockermouth 1 47.85x
Dartmouth St Petrox 1 285.71x
Douglas 1 93.46x
Guyzance 1 1428.57x
Hackney London 1 1.55x
Haxey 1 128.21x
Lewisham 1 4.78x
Loughborough 1 17.27x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.49x
Putney 1 19.05x
Shawbury 1 263.16x
Skenfrith 1 400.00x
Swansea Town 1 6.09x
Tonbridge 1 7.06x
Tottenham 1 5.46x
Toxteth Park 1 2.16x
Turton 1 44.64x
West Greenock 1 6.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Louisa 5
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Ann 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elin 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.F.D. 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Julie 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Marhalor 1
Maria 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Saidee 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Rey surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Rey a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Rey surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the Latin word "rex," meaning "king," likely referring to a person's regal bearing or authority.

What does the Rey map show?

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