REES
The Rees surname is of Welsh origin and is derived from the personal name Rhys, which in Welsh means "enthusiasm" or "ardour". The name is patronymic, traditionally indicating descent from a male ancestor bearing the given name Rhys.
In the Welsh language the name is frequently rendered as Rhys, but the surname has a number of accepted English variations, including Reese and Reece. Earlier historical documents record the name in a range of forms such as Rice, Ryce, Reasce and Rees. The record shows that the surname was first attested in the early 13th century. Notable early examples include John Rees in the 1288 Fine Court Rolls of Suffolk and Walter Rys in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.
The name appears even earlier in the Anglo‑Saxon Chronicles of 1052 under the spelling Hris for the county of Cambridgeshire, and in the Domesday Book of 1086 for Cheshire. It was borne by Rhys ap Tewder, the last independent ruler of a Welsh kingdom, who died in 1093 after resisting Norman conquest. In the Tudor period the name occurs in ecclesiastical documents: Richard Rice (or Price) was abbot of Conway in 1536, and John Ryce is listed in the 1524 Hearth Tax rolls of Suffolk. A marriage record from 1591 notes the union of Griphin Rice and Agnes Careless at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster.
Beyond Wales, the surname is also recorded in England. The earliest known spelling in the English records is that of William Res, dated 1203 in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire during the reign of King John (1199‑1216). In contemporary culture Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762‑1844) is noted for founding the Irish Christian Brothers Order in County Waterford in 1808.
The heraldic devices associated with the name include a silver shield charged with an erminois chevron cotised black between three ravens, a design that has appeared in various forms of the family armorial bearings.
Typical given names associated with the Rees surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Gareth
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Sian
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Eres
- Raas
- Race
- Rae
- Raee
- Raees
- Raes
- Raez
- Raies
- Rais
- Ras
- Rayees
- Rayes
- Rays
- Raza
- Rea
- Reader
- Reades
- Reakes
- Reames
- Reanes
- Reas
- Reates
- Reaves
- Reaz
- Rece
- Redges
- Ree
- Reece
- Reeg
- Reeh
- Reek
- Reeks
- Reese
- Reeses
- Reess
- Reevs
- Reeys
- Rege
- Reges
- Regs
- Rehe
- Rei
- Reihs
- Reikes
- Reines
- Reis
- Reise
- Reish
- Reiss
- Reites
- Reives
- Reiz
- Reke
- Relles
- Remes
- Renes
- Rennes
- Rese
- Ress
- Reus
- Reves
- Reye
- Reyes
- Reynes
- Reyss
- Rez
- Rhee
- Rhees
- Rheese
- Rice
- Riehs
- Ries
- Riis
- Rise
- Roese
- Roos
- Rous
- Rouse
- Rowse
- Royce
- Ruis
- Ruiz
- Ruse
- Russ
- Russo
- Ryce
- Wreves
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Rees in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Rees are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger snap.
There are approximately 47,734 people named Rees in the UK. That makes it the 147th most common surname in Britain. Around 733 in a million people in Britain are named Rees.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Rees
- Angharad Rees - Actress, jewellery designer (1944 to 2012)
- Roger Rees - Welsh-American actor (1944 to 2015)
- Martin Rees - Cosmologist, astrophysicist, Astronomer Royal, Master of Trinity College, President of the Royal Soc
- Jentina Rose Rees - R&B singer, rapper, songwriter and model Romani
- Serena Rees - Businesswoman
- Matthew Rees - Welsh rugby union player
- Josh Rees - Football player
- Celia Rees - Author
- Judith Rees - Academic, educator
- Goronwy Rees - Spy for the Soviet Union (1909 to 1979)
- Dai Rees - Golfer (1913 to 1983)
- Hubert Rees - Actor (1928 to 2009)
- Peter Rees, Baron Rees - Politician, Cabinet Minister and life peer. (1926 to 2008)
- Alan Rees - Racecar driver
- Clive Rees - Welsh rugby union player
- Leighton Rees - Darts player (1940 to 2003)
- Christina Rees - Welsh politician and MP
- Kyle Rees - Actor
- Gavin Rees - Boxer
- Thomas Wynford Rees - Indian Army general (1898 to 1959)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.