Reek History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Early Origins of the Reek family

The surname Reek 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 Reek family

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

Reek Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Reek family

the Reekie family of Angus

Migration of the Reek family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: George Reekie, who came to Ontario in 1848; Alexander Reekie, who settled in Detroit in 1861; John Reekie, who arrived in Ontario in 1848; and William Reekie, who settled in Philadelphia in 1808..

The Reek 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)