| ![Show Contents]() Reavey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Reavey is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a local representative of a lord, a reeve, sheriff, steward or bailiff. 1 2 The surname Reavey was originally derived from the Old English (ge)refa which referred to a representative. 3 The name is "an official appointed by the lord of the manor to supervise his tenants' work." 4 Early Origins of the Reavey familyThe surname Reavey was first found in Leicestershire where Walter and James le Reve were listed in 1220. John atte Reuese was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. The plural form of the name which is actually most common today dates back to 1332 when Richard del Reves was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1332. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Sampson le Reve, Suffolk; and John le Reve, Cambridgeshire. 5 In Somerset, William le Reve, John le Reveson, and William le Reveson were listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 6 Early History of the Reavey familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reavey research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1594, 1608, 1611, 1618, 1638, 1647, 1658, 1660, 1662, 1667, 1672, 1673, 1678, 1686, 1726, 1729, 1737, 1818, 1861, 1865 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Reavey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Reavey Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Reavey are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Reavey include Reeve, Reve, Reave, Reaves, Reeves and others. Early Notables of the Reavey familyDistinguished members of the family include Edmund Reeve (1585-1647), English Justice of the Common Pleas, son of Christopher Reeve of Felthorpe, Norfolk; Edmund Reeve (died 1660), English divine, vicar of Hayes-cum-Norwood, Middlesex; Thomas Reeve (1594-1672), English Royalist divine, born at Langley, Norfolk, son of Thomas Reeve, a husbandman; John Reeve (1608-1658), an English plebeian prophet, believed the voice of God had instructed him to found a Third Commission in...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Reavey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Reavey family to Ireland
Some of the Reavey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 196 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Reavey migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Reavey or a variant listed above:
Reavey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Francis Reavey, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1896
Reavey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Margaret Reavey, aged 18, who landed in America from Armyh, Ireland, in 1907
- Joseph Reavey, aged 28, who settled in America, in 1908
- Patrick Reavey, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Rathfriland, Ireland, in 1911
- William Reavey, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1912
- Charles Reavey, aged 28, who landed in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1920
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Reavey 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: Reavey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- James Reavey, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
| Contemporary Notables of the name Reavey (post 1700) | + |
- Alton Reavey, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 28th District, 1968 7
- Agnes C. Reavey, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 2nd District, 1936 7
- George Reavey (1907-1976), Russian-born Irish surrealist poet, publisher, translator and art collector
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: Animum rege
Motto Translation: Rule thy mind.
- Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Reavey migration to the United States 
Reavey migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
