Find out how popular the last name Rease is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rease.

Rease, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rease surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rease in America

Rease is the 33410th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rease surname appeared 683 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rease.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rease to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rease

The surname Rease is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "reas," meaning a rush or reed, possibly indicating that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a marshy area or a place where reeds grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Rese." This suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England and may have been brought over by Norman settlers.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Reese, Rees, and Reace, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and the influence of regional dialects. One notable bearer of the name was John Rese, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the spelling "Rease" became more consistent, and records show that the name was prevalent in counties like Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this spelling was William Rease, who was born in Nantwich, Cheshire, in 1521.

As the Rease family expanded, they established themselves in various parts of England. One notable figure was Sir John Rease (1584-1647), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Cheshire during the reign of King Charles I.

Throughout the centuries, the Rease surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Thomas Rease (1670-1738), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
2. Elizabeth Rease (1735-1807), a renowned poet and author who published several collections of verse in the late 18th century.
3. William Rease (1792-1868), a prominent industrialist and inventor who pioneered several innovations in the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution.
4. Sir Henry Rease (1841-1916), a celebrated explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to Africa and made significant contributions to the study of wildlife and indigenous cultures.
5. Margaret Rease (1879-1958), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a pivotal role in establishing several schools and educational initiatives in the early 20th century.

While the surname Rease is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rease

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rease.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rease was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rease has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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