This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Reeve family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Reeve Family History

Reeve Surname Meaning

English (East Anglia): occupational name from Middle English reve refe ‘reeve’ (Old English gerēfa). In medieval England a reeve was an official responsible for the administration of a manor including organizing work done by the peasants on the land for their lord, collecting rents, selling produce, and so on.

Irish: variant of Reeves.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Reeve family from?

You can see how Reeve families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reeve family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Reeve families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,281 Reeve families living in Norfolk. This was about 18% of all the recorded Reeve's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Reeve families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reeve surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Reeve ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Reeve. 5% of Reeve men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Reeve women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reeve were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Reeve | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    5%
  • Farm Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Reeve family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 187,000 census records available for the last name Reeve. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reeve census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Reeve

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Reeve. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Reeve immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Reeve. For the veterans among your Reeve ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reeve military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reeve family history

Discover More

What is the average Reeve lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Reeve life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Reeve in 1942 was 69, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reeve

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reeve ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Reeve family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial