Explore the Family Name Rea
The meaning of Rea
1. English: from a misdivision of the Middle English phrase atter ye ‘at the island’ (Old English ēg, īeg). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived on an island or patch of firm ground surrounded by marsh, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Rye (Sussex), The Rye in High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire), Rye Hill in Epping Upland (Essex), Rye Mill in Feering (Essex), and Rye House in Stanstead Abbots (Hertfordshire). Alternatively, the name may also arise from a misdivision of the Middle English phrase atter eye ‘at the river’ (Old English ēa) and may also be topographic, for someone who lived near a river or stream, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Rea in Hempsted (Gloucestershire), Ray Lodge in Lingfield (Surrey), and Rye Farm in Cranleigh (Surrey). Due to the similarity of Middle English forms it is now impossible to distinguish between the two explanations. See also Nye. 2. English: post-medieval form of Wray. 3. English: variant of Ray. 4. Scottish: shortened and altered form of McRae. 5. Irish: from Riabhach, described as an adjectival surname (meaning ‘gray’ or ‘brindled’) that replaced a hereditary one. 6. Italian: from the feminine form of the nickname Reo 1. 7. Italian: from the male personal name Rea, a short form of Andrea. Compare Reo 2.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rea in the United States?
The surname "Rea" is moderately common in the U.S., according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it ranked as the 2,423rd most popular surname, and by 2010, it had slightly decreased in rank to 2,443rd. Still, the number of individuals bearing the surname increased from 13,708 in 2000 to 14,819 in 2010, a growth rate of around 8.1%. Despite this increase, the proportion of individuals named Rea per 100,000 people slightly decreased from 5.08 to 5.02.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,423 | #2,443 | -0.83% |
| Count | 13,708 | 14,819 | 8.1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.08 | 5.02 | -1.18% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rea
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Rea", based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, we see shifts between 2000 and 2010. The majority of individuals are identified as White, though the percentage dropped from 78.52% in 2000 to 72.34% in 2010. The Hispanic population saw significant growth, increasing from 17.65% to 23.83%. There was also an increase in the American Indian and Alaskan Native population, rising from 0.42% to 0.59%. Conversely, those identifying with two or more races and Black populations saw decreases, moving from 1.23% to 1.10% and 1.05% to 0.92% respectively. The Asian/Pacific Islander group experienced a slight increase, going from 1.13% to 1.21%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.52% | 72.34% | -7.87% |
| Hispanic | 17.65% | 23.83% | 35.01% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.13% | 1.21% | 7.08% |
| Two or More Races | 1.23% | 1.1% | -10.57% |
| Black | 1.05% | 0.92% | -12.38% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.59% | 40.48% |
Rea ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Rea is British & Irish, which comprises 48.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.0%) and Eastern European (5.8%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Indigenous American, Scandinavian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 48.8% |
| French & German | 20.0% |
| Eastern European | 5.8% |
| Other | 25.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Rea
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Rea have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 77.20% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 77.20% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 77.20% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 77.20% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 76.90% |
What Rea haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Rea is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and G-L91, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Hartman, Miller, Weber, Spring, Keller, Wagner, Goodman, Albert, Gallo, Kline.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Rea surname are: A2, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Rea have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Rea" Surname 42.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Rea" Surname 38.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Rea" Surname 21.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Rea" Surname 20.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Rea?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Rea are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition