Reaks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Early Origins of the Reaks family

The surname Reaks was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland, where they held a family seat in their territories. The Pictish influence on Scottish history diminished after Kenneth Macalpine became King of all Scotland. But those east coast families still played an important role in government and were more accessible to Government than their western highland counterparts. Allegiances were important to Scottish middle age survival. They held a family seat at the lands of Reikie near Alford in Aberdeen. 1

The following entry is most interesting: "a person of this name in a letter to the "Weekly Scotsman" of Edinburgh some years ago said that in his family Bible under 1731 this name is spelled Rikie; and he adds that he had access to records as far back as 1460 in which the name is spelled Riki and Rikie." 2

Early History of the Reaks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reaks research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1552, 1567 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Reaks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reaks Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reekie, Reikie, Rikie, Reky and others.

Early Notables of the Reaks family

More information is included under the topic Early Reaks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reaks migration to the United States +

Reaks Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Berkeley Garland Reaks, who arrived in Alabama in 1920 3

The Reaks 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: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I flourish again.

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
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)