Explore the Family Name Reeves
The meaning of Reeves
1. English: variant of Reeve, with post-medieval excrescent -s. 2. English: from Middle English reve + genitival -s, for the son, daughter, wife, or servant of a reeve or of someone surnamed Reeve. 3. English: from Middle English atte Reves, a topographic and occupational name for someone who lived and probably worked ‘at the reeve’s (house)’. 4. English: topographic name for someone who lived on the margin of a wood or other geographical feature, from a misdivision of the Middle English phrase atter eves ‘at the edge or border’ (Old English æt thære efese). See Eaves. 5. Irish (Limerick): from Ó Rímheadha, later Ó Rímheá ‘descendant of Rímheadh’, a personal name derived from rímid meaning ‘counter’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Reeves in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Reeves shifted slightly from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Reeves ranked as the 358th most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010 it had slipped to 390th place, representing a drop of around 8.94%. However, the actual count of individuals bearing the surname increased during this period from 79,817 to 81,978, up by 2.71%. The proportion of the population with the surname per 100k people also decreased by 6.08%, from 29.59 in 2000 to 27.79 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #358 | #390 | -8.94% |
| Count | 79,817 | 81,978 | 2.71% |
| Proportion per 100k | 29.59 | 27.79 | -6.08% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Reeves
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows changes between 2000 and 2010 for those carrying the Reeves surname. The percentage identifying as White decreased from 79.79% to 77.31%, a -3.11% change. Those identifying as Black saw a moderate increase from 15.66% to 16.52%, a 5.49% growth. There was also an increase in those identifying as Hispanic (from 1.75% to 2.71%), Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.46% to 0.57%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (from 0.70% to 0.77%). Notably, there was a significant increase in individuals identifying with two or more races, from 1.64% to 2.12%, a change of 29.27%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.79% | 77.31% | -3.11% |
| Black | 15.66% | 16.52% | 5.49% |
| Hispanic | 1.75% | 2.71% | 54.86% |
| Two or More Races | 1.64% | 2.12% | 29.27% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.7% | 0.77% | 10% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.57% | 23.91% |
Reeves 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 Reeves is British & Irish, which comprises 56.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.1%) and Eastern European (3.3%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 56.8% |
| French & German | 21.1% |
| Eastern European | 3.3% |
| Other | 18.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Reeves
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 Reeves have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 87.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 87.10% |
What Reeves 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 Reeves is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include H-P96 and E-V13, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Wright, Mason, Wagner, Skinner, Snyder, Wells, Hoffman, Fisher, Walter, Miller.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Reeves surname are: H1, T2b, 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 Reeves 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.
"Reeves" 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.
"Reeves" Surname 28.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Reeves" Surname 26.0%
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.
"Reeves" Surname 19.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Reeves?
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 Reeves are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition