Surname Reen - Meaning and Origin
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Reen: What does the surname Reen mean?
The last name Reen is Irish in origin, likely deriving from the Gaelic word "raon" meaning "field" or "plain." According to House of Names, the Reen surname is of variant spellings and is most common in County Galway, as well as the provinces of Ulster and Leinster.
Given its Irish origins, the Reen surname is often linked to the O'Reen clan, which was largely based in Galway where they held considerable power and influence in the medieval period. As a powerful sept of the Uí Maine, the O'Reen clan was associated with several members of the O'Kelly family, ultimately coming under their control by the year 1280.
Today, Reen is a popular surname in Ireland, though there are few living members of the O'Reen clan, as the name has been in decline since the late medieval period. Despite this, the legacy of the Reen surname and its associated Irish culture continue to be preserved through the use of the name in modern times.
Order DNA origin analysisReen: Where does the name Reen come from?
The last name Reen is commonly found today in Ireland, England, Canada, and the United States. There are a few different origins of the Reen surname, but the primary origins are Irish, English, and Dutch.
The Irish origin of the Reen name is believed to be derived from the name of an old Celtic tribe called the Uí Riachain (descendants of Riachbhaidh) located in what is now County Sligo. The earliest known record of the Reen family in Ireland dates back to 1668 when Charles Reen was recorded in Castlegar, Galway. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic personal name Riach, an ancient Irish term which was an occupational name for a foot soldier or travelling merchant.
The English origin of the Reen name is from the Old English word “regen” meaning ruler or leading man. It was mainly used as an occupational name for someone in a leadership role, such as a magistrate or clergyman.
The Dutch origin of the Reen name comes from the Middle Dutch word “Reen” which was an occupational name for a farmer. This is the most likely origin for many Reen surnames in the U.S. today.
Overall, the last name Reen is fairly common today in countries where their ancestors settled centuries ago. As the years go on, the Reen surname is likely to be found in many more parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Reen
The surname Reen is of English origin, and is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Rein", which meant "pure". Other variants of the surname include Reen, Reens, Reaney, Raine, Reign, Rains, Rayne, Reine, Rein, Ren, Reaney, Reaney, Reanney, Reany, Reyn, Reeve, White Reen,Rainey, Rayn, Reen and Reyns.
In some cases, Reen may also be a variant spelling of Rhine, which is derived from the Germanic Rhin river. As a surname, this spelling of Reen is found in Germany, as well as other countries of the Germanic-speaking world.
The surname Reen also has some Irish origins. It is believed to have derived from "O'Riain", which was a Gaelicized form of the given name "Rein" or "Rayn". The Irish variations of Reen would include O'Reen, O'Reayn, Rain, Reagan, Riordan and Ryan.
In Scotland, Reen may also be derived from an occupational term for a person with a job of conveying goods over a river or stream on a flat-bottomed boat. In this case, the surname would be spelled Reeve, and is related to the word to "row".
In other cases, Reen may be an Anglicized form of the Welsh surname “Rhys”. This can also be spelt Reeve or Rhys. Another Welsh variant of the surname is Ris, which may be spelt Reece.
All these variants offer a fascinating insight into the origin of the Reen surname. The evolution of the name reflects its varied geographical locations and languages, as it travels across cultures and changes through many centuries of different influences.
Famous people with the name Reen
- Pippa Reen: an Irish beauty blogger and influencer.
- Ted Reen: a Canadian ice hockey player with a long professional career.
- David Reen: a Canadian journalist who worked for the CBC for over 20 years.
- Kyle Reen: a British actor who has appeared in the TV series Game of Thrones.
- Stefan Reen: an American actor, playwright, and director.
- Fred Reen: an American artist and animator who has been featured in many animated films.
- Lily Reen: an English singer-songwriter signed to Warner Music.
- Bill Reen: an American poet, playwright, and novelist.
- Gary Reen: an American television journalist and international correspondent for CBS News.
- Ruth Reen: an American actress, best known for her roles on stage, screen, and television.