| ![Show Contents]() Reams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Reams surname is of Norman origin, thought to be derived from the place name Rames in Seine-Inférieure, Normandy. Early Origins of the Reams familyThe surname Reams was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Metinges. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Metinge and the lands of Ramesdune in Suffolk, where Roger de Rames was an under-tenant who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. The Rames castle in Normandy was near the forest, west of Bolbec. Roger was given considerable lands in England and directly related to the Mandevilles and the d'Estouteville. Early History of the Reams familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reams research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1260 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Reams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Reams Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Raimes, Rames, Reams, Ramis, Raimis, Reymes, Rheims, Rhymes and many more. Early Notables of the Reams familyMore information is included under the topic Early Reams Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Reams RankingIn the United States, the name Reams is the 5,938th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2
 Reams migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Reams or a variant listed above:
Reams Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Joa. Reams, who settled in Virginia in 1681
| Contemporary Notables of the name Reams (post 1700) | + |
- W. D. Reams, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1956 3
- Robert Borden Reams (1904-1994), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Dahomey, 1960; Niger, 1960-61; Ivory Coast, 1960-62; Upper Volta, 1960-61 3
- Henry Frazier Reams (1897-1971), American politician, Representative from Ohio 9th District, 1951-55 3
- Gary A. Reams, American politician, Representative from Virginia 10th District, 1996 3
- Mrs. Frazier Reams Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1972 3
- Frazier Reams Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1964, 1972; Candidate for Governor of Ohio, 1966 3
|
Reams migration to the United States 
