Find out how popular the first name Reeve has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Reeve by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Reeve is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 79% of people named Reeve being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 40 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Reeve.

The history of the first name Reeve

The name Reeve originated from the Old English word "gerefa," which means "guardian" or "steward." This name has a long history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, around the 5th to 11th centuries.

The word "gerefa" was used to refer to a high-ranking official responsible for managing the affairs of a town or manor, collecting taxes, and enforcing local laws. As such, the name Reeve carried a sense of authority and responsibility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reeve can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted in England in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Reue," "Reve," and "Refe."

In medieval times, the name Reeve was associated with various historical figures. For example, Reeve the Rhymer, also known as Thomas the Rhymer, was a renowned 13th-century Scottish poet and prophet. Another notable figure was Walter Reeve, a 14th-century English landowner and soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

During the Renaissance period, the name Reeve gained popularity among the nobility and gentry in England. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Edmund Reeve (1570-1641), an English politician and member of Parliament.

In the 19th century, the name Reeve became associated with the literary world. Legh Reeve (1809-1842) was an English poet and writer, while Henry Reeve (1813-1895) was a renowned English journalist and editor of the Edinburgh Review.

Other notable historical figures with the name Reeve include Tapping Reeve (1744-1823), an American lawyer and founder of the Litchfield Law School, and Christopher Reeve (1952-2004), the acclaimed American actor best known for portraying Superman in the iconic film series.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Reeve was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Reeve, please contact us.

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