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Reis Family History

Reis Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German rīs ‘undergrowth brushwood’; a topographic name for someone who lived in an overgrown area or a habitational name from Reis or Reissen in Bavaria. German: occupational name for a cobbler Middle High German riuze. Compare Reuss.

German: from a short form of the personal name Zacharias. Altered form of German Ries. Portuguese and Galician: from a short form of dos Reis ‘(of) the (Three) Kings’ (see Dos Reis). Compare Reys.

Welsh: variant of Rice.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for a dealer in rice or an artificial name from German Reis ‘rice’.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Reis ‘twig branch’. Turkish: ornamental name or nickname from reis ‘head chief’.

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


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Where is the Reis family from?

You can see how Reis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reis family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Reis families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 87 Reis families living in London. This was about 43% of all the recorded Reis's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Reis families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reis surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Reis ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Refugee and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Reis. 100% of Reis men worked as a Refugee and 69% of Reis women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Reis | 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

  • Refugee
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Private Means
    15%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    5%

What Reis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 40,000 census records available for the last name Reis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Reis

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Reis. 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 Reis immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Reis. For the veterans among your Reis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reis family history

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What is the average Reis lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Reis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Reis in 1943 was 39, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reis

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reis 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.

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