Surname Rhees - Meaning and Origin
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Rhees: What does the surname Rhees mean?
The surname Rhees is believed to have derived from the Welsh personal name Rhys which means "enthusiasm" in Welsh. It is a patronymic surname which originally denoted son of Rhys and became a hereditary surname later. The spelling variation from Rhys to Rhees could be due to differences in translation from the Welsh language to English. The surname Rhees is quite common in Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom. Additionally, some families with this surname may have Welsh ancestry even if they now reside in other countries such as the United States. Overall, like many surnames, the specific meaning for each family can vary based on their individual genealogical history.
Order DNA origin analysisRhees: Where does the name Rhees come from?
The last name Rhees is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. It originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe and, as such, is most commonly found in German-speaking North America, including parts of the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the greatest concentrations of Rhees can be found in the eastern and Midwest portions of the nation. Pennsylvania and Ohio have the highest population of individuals with the last name Rhees, followed by Michigan, New Jersey, and New York. In Canada, the name can be found throughout the nation but has the highest concentrations in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The last name Rhees is not especially common in Australia, although it can be found in small amounts in New South Wales and Victoria. It is also found in low numbers in New Zealand.
In the United Kingdom, the last name Rhees is not particularly common. However, there are some small pockets, especially in the counties of Lancashire and West Yorkshire, that do have more significant concentrations of individuals with the name than would be expected.
It is worth noting that the Rhees name is not limited to European regions and North America. It can also be found in certain parts of India, primarily in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra, and in some parts of Southeast Asia—mainly parts of Singapore and Indonesia.
Variations of the surname Rhees
Rhees is an English-origin surname derived from the Old English ‘ries’, meaning ‘clearing’. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for this surname include Rhys, Reece, Rees, Reese, Rhhee, Rheece, Rhodes, Rice, Rhyses, Rhyce, Reecey, Riece, Reace, Reecee, Rhiees, Reecee, and Rhysse, among others.
The Welsh variant of this surname is Rhys. Rhys was a personal name before it became a surname, and was derived from the word ‘rhi’, which means ardor. The Old Welsh variant of Rhys was Rhyse, and the Latin equivalent was Grisus. The spelling variations of Rhys include Rees, Reice, Reece, Rhys, Rhuys, Rease, Rese, Reecey, Riece, Reecey, and Reesy.
The Irish variant of this surname is Reese. It was originally an anglicized version of the Irish surname ‘O’Ruaidhe’, which means ‘descendant of Ruaidhri’, a personal name of uncertain derivation. The variations of Reese include Rees, Rease, Reece, Rhyses, Rhyce, Reecey, Riece, Reecee, Rhiees, Reecee, and Rhysse.
The German variant of this surname is Rhodes. It was derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Hrodgaud’, which was composed of the elements ‘hrōd’, meaning renown, and ‘gaud’, meaning spirit or gaudy. The variations of Rhodes include Rhoades, Rhoads, Rodes, Rhoads, Rhoades, Rhoughs, Rhoadte, Rhootse, Rhiest, Roefts, Roets, Rhoefts, and Rhosst, among others.
The Scottish variant of this surname is Rice. It was derived from the name of a small village in Ayrshire county, Scotland, which was derived from ‘uisge’, meaning water. The variations of Rice include Reece, Rees, Reice, Risee, Reecey, Riece, Reecee, Rhiees, Reecee, Rhysse, and Rhyce.
Famous people with the name Rhees
- Penry Rhees: Welsh Presbyterian minister and author.
- Frederick James Rhees: American theologian and philosopher.
- Susan Rhees: American film producer and owner of ROOSTER Teeth Productions.
- Harry Emerson Rhees: American philosopher and noted pastor.
- Richard Rhees: Welsh actor, known for his roles in the films “Killers” and “Titanic”.
- Tina Fey Rhees: American stand-up comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member.
- Octavia Fisher Rhees: American author and poet.
- Roald Rhees: Welsh poet and composer.
- Penny Rhees: Australian singer-songwriter and former record producer.
- Edward Rhees: New Zealand politician
- Ramon Rhees: German writer and author.
- Hugo Rhees: German sculptor.
- Edward T. Rhees: American historian and college professor.
- Deanna Rhees: American journalist and documentary filmmaker.
- Y Gimaca Rhees: Welsh singer and member of the Blonde Electra band.