History of your Surname
Get access to Rea family records.Start a free trial

Rea Family History

Rea Name Meaning

English: variant of Rye 1 and 2. reduced form of Scottish McRea.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Reap, Crea, Dea, Rey, Ree, Reay, Rex, Kea, Lea, Drea

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Rea family from?

You can see how Rea families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rea family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rea families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 32 Rea families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 15% of all the recorded Rea's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Rea families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rea surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rea ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rea. 15% of Rea men worked as a Laborer and 9% of Rea women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rea were Clerk and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Rea | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    9%
  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Teacher
    7%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Rea family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 108,000 census records available for the last name Rea. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rea census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Rea

Passenger Lists

There are 17,000 immigration records available for the last name Rea. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rea immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 44,000 military records available for the last name Rea. For the veterans among your Rea ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rea military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rea family history

Discover More

What is the average Rea lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Rea life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Rea in 1940 was 78, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rea

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rea family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial