The Scottish Reoch surname comes from the Gaelic "riabhach," meaning "brindled," or "grayish;" as such, it was thought to have been a nickname for someone with streaks of gray or white hair. 1
Early Origins of the Reoch family
The surname Reoch was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records of the family was John Reoch, Burgess of Inverness in 1452. Part of the lands of Parcy or Parcyis were leased to Alan Reoch or Roeoch in 1463 and Robert Reauch and Finlay Reauch were tenants on lands of the bishopric of Aberdeen in 1511.
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Early History of the Reoch family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reoch research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1514, 1530, 1539, 1544 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Reoch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Reoch Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Reach, Reoch, Rioch, Riach, Riaech and others.
Early Notables of the Reoch family
More information is included under the topic Early Reoch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Reoch family to Ireland
Some of the Reoch family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Reoch migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Reoch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Miss Rebecca Reoch, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 2
- Miss Mary Ann Reoch, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1859 2
The Reoch Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.
Citations +
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html