Surname Rees - Meaning and Origin
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read moreRees: What does the surname Rees mean?
The surname Rees is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Welsh personal name Rhys, which means "ardor", "enthusiasm", or "passion". It was originally given to someone who displayed these qualities. Rhys is one of the oldest Welsh names, and the surname Rees (and its variant forms such as Reese or Price) can be found throughout Wales and the west of England. Famous people with this surname include the Welsh actor Roger Rees and the British scientist Martin John Rees. The surname is shared by several other notable individuals from various fields, further highlighting its widespread prevalence and significance.
Order DNA origin analysisRees: Where does the name Rees come from?
The last name Rees is an anglicized spelling of the Welsh surname Rhys, and as such is most commonly found in areas associated with Wales, particularly South Wales. It is one of the most common surnames in the United Kingdom and the United States, and can be found in numerous country including England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
In terms of population numbers, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom lead the way in terms of the sheer number of people with the surname Rees. In both these countries, it is estimated that well over 200,000 people currently bear the name.
Rees is more commonly found in the lower ranked UK/US Top 1000 surnames due to its Welsh origin, although it is still one of the most common surnames in America and Britain overall. Variations of the name such as Rhys, Reece and Reecey can also be found in other English-speaking countries. The Strait Islander, Aboriginal and Melanesian people of the South Pacific island of Fiji also use the last name Rees.
Overall, the last name Rees is quite widespread across the globe, due to its popularity both in Wales and around the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Rees
The surname Rees is a patronymic of the given name Rhys which is a Welsh form of the name 'Rice'. It is derived from elements meaning "wisdom", "ardor" or "enthusiasm". This surname is also spelt Reese, Reiss, Reisses and Rhys.
The scanning of old records may reveal one or more variants of the surname Rees. Alternatives may be found including Reese, Reiss, Reisses, Rhys and any other variations that may have evolved with different spellings. Reese is an Americanised spelling. Merseyside knowledge suggests Rees is also used in a plural form as 'Reeses', although this form does not have wide usage.
The Welsh, Rees, is also found in Anglicised form, Rees being sometimes altered to Reece. This change can arise from an ancestor's decision to adopt an Anglicised form of the name or due to dialectical differences between writing and speech.
Generally the Rees and Reese versions of the name are mainly found in Wales and England, whilst Reiss is more common in Germany, Austria and parts of France. The name Rhys is commonly found in Wales.
Despite spelling variations, all these names have the same origin and in some parts of the world have maintained the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Rees
- John Rees: British political activist and author.
- Lloyd Rees: Australian modernist landscape painter.
- Gary Rees: Welsh professional boxer and two-time Commonwealth Lightweight champion.
- David Rees: British politician and Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Neath.
- Wendy Rees: British actress best known for her roles in the TV series Holby City and Doctors.
- Robin Rees: Welsh clergyman and author, and the current Bishop of Edinburgh.
- Dian Rees-Jones: British actress, author and television presenter.
- Rebecca Rees: Welsh singer and actress, and former member of the all-female rock band Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.
- Matthew Rees: Welsh international rugby union player who plays scrum-half for the Ospreys.
- Simon Rees: Welsh bassist, composer, and experimental recording artist.