Show ContentsReach Surname History

Etymology of Reach

What does the name Reach mean?

The Scottish Reach 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 Reach family

The surname Reach 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 Reach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reach research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1514, 1530, 1539, 1544 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Reach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reach Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reach, Reoch, Rioch, Riach, Riaech and others.

Early Notables of the Reach family

  • John Reacht of Inverness

Reach Ranking

the United States, the name Reach is the 12,536th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Reach family to Ireland

Some of the Reach 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.


Reach migration to the United States +



Reach Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Reach, who settled in Virginia in 1654
Reach Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Reach, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 3
  • William Reach, who settled in New England in 1762
  • Janet Reach and her husband settled in Savannah, Georgia in 1775
  • Janet Reach, aged 20, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1775 3
Reach Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Reach who settled in Nantucket Massachusetts in 1823
  • J M Reach, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • Isidor Reach, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1893 3

Reach migration to Canada +

Reach Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Reach U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Reach (post 1700) +

  • Angus Bethune Reach (1821-1856), Scottish journalist, son of Roderick Reach, solicitor, of Inverness


  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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