The Reese surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 73,919 people carried this name — #445 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,990 people counted. That is up 3% from 71,754 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Reese surname

As a given name and British surname generally from Welsh Rhys (literally “ardor”).

Chiefly in North America, the surname may also be from unrelated German Reese (literally “giant”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Reese» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Rhys’.

His entry covers Rees, Reese and Reece.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 641 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

37 people named Reese live in Switzerland.

They live in 6 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 14
Bern 8
Aargau 6
Basel-Landschaft 3
Graubünden 3
Ticino 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

148 families named Reese, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 879 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 12 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 80
South Carolina 19
Maryland 18
New York 14
North Carolina 10
Virginia 4
Massachusetts 2
Connecticut 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 258 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Reese in American newspapers,
1886–1905.

Newspaper page from The Livingston Enterprise carrying the name Reese
The Livingston Enterprise 1886-11-06
Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Reese
The Anaconda Standard 1890-01-14
Newspaper page from The Tupelo Journal carrying the name Reese
The Tupelo Journal 1905-10-27

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 393,090 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Reese in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

4,166 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Reese. The most, 738, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 1,504
Victoria 719
South Australia 676
New South Wales 643
Western Australia 394
Tasmania 129
ACT (Canberra) 31
Northern Territory 2

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Reese.

Who carried it

People named Reese,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Abram Reese
    Abram Reese 1829–1908 · inventor
  • Heinrich Reese
    Heinrich Reese 1843–1919 · architect
  • Bert Reese
    Bert Reese 1851–1926
  • Frederick F. Reese
    Frederick F. Reese 1854–1936 · Anglican priest
  • Theodore I. Reese
    Theodore I. Reese 1873–1931 · presbyter

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 266 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Reese,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States5,646 records

5,646 records of the Reese name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 2,526
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 1,087
  • Other U.S. records 2,033
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William N. Reese

    Born 1932; from Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1951 in South Korea. Buried at Beverly National Cemetery, New Jersey.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Sanford H. Reese

    Born 1906 in Washington. Enlisted 1942 at Tacoma; farm hand from Snohomish County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Valley View Cemetery, Stanwood, Washington.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Sophia Reese

    Arrived at New York in 1857 aboard the Jason from Bremen and Southampton, aged 53; farmer. From Hanover, Germany.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 5,646 records for Reese in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany803 records

803 records of the Reese name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 800
  • German estate files 2
  • German emigration and citizenship files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Karl Reese

    Born 1894; from Bremen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 3 January 1917; then reported dead in the list of 16 May 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Reese

    Naturalised at Bodenwerder/Preußen in 1901.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg (CC0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Carl Reese

    Estate settled in 1912.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0)

Showing 3 of 803 records for Reese in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands506 records

506 records of the Reese name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 266
  • Dutch population registers 210
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 30
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Maria Caroliena Reese

    Married in 1824 in Amsterdam; domestic servant. Died 1840 in 's-Hertogenbosch.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Carl Hermann Nicolaus Reese

    Married in 1877 in Rotterdam. Died 1886 in Rotterdam, aged 30.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Ida Alma Reese

    Married in 1928 in Utrecht. Died 1959 in Utrecht, aged 65.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 506 records for Reese in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia175 records

175 records of the Reese name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 73
  • Tasmanian Names Index 33
  • Other Australian records 69
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record George Reese

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Cressy, sailing from Plymouth in 1843. Native of Lambeth, Surrey. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847. Married 1847 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joseph Reese

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1851 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 50.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Reese

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the War Spirit, aged 38; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 175 records for Reese in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada105 records

105 records of the Reese name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 86
  • Ontario immigration records, 1865–1883 6
  • Other Canadian records 13
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Evan Reese

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Prussian, bound for St. Cathrns, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Lloyd Reese

    Killed in 1955 at the Springhill No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Harold Reese

    Buried in 1982 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 67.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 105 records for Reese in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand32 records

32 records of the Reese name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 30
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alexander Charles Reese

    Died 1970, aged 83; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Leslie Allan Reese

    Died 1969; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emily Margaret Reese

    Died 1991, aged 96; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 32 records for Reese in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Norway9 records

9 records of the Reese name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Karl Reese

    Census of 1910: Aslak Boltsgate, Trondhjem; painter, born 1888 in Stenkjær.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Marie Reese

    Census of 1910: Arbeiderboligen (Nyboligen), Strinden; born 1891 in Stenkjær.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Reese in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

United Kingdom3 records

3 records of the Reese name in the United Kingdom Welsh wills index cards
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record G.e Reese

    Will proved in 1941; of Holyhead, Anglesey.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Reese in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Reese name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Henri Joseph Reese

    Born 1905 in Algeria; died 1990 in Algeria.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Reese in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Reese.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Reese is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Reese volume
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