Surname Ream - Meaning and Origin
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Ream: What does the surname Ream mean?
The last name Ream is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word "rheum" which originally meant "person living at the rim or edge", referring to one who lived near the rim of a village, forest or river. Therefore, the last name Ream likely originated as a topographic surname for someone who lived at the boundary of a settlement or a regional name for a person who lived by a river bank or a hill edge. It was also commonly used to denote an area cleared for agriculture which often sat at the outskirts or "rim" of a settlement; hence, another possible interpretation of the name Ream could be "clearing" or "cleared land". Like many surnames, the spelling has changed over centuries due to linguistic evolution and regional variations. Other variants of the surname include Reame, Reames, and Reemes.
Order DNA origin analysisReam: Where does the name Ream come from?
The last name Ream is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic regions. It can also be found in parts of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The earliest known bearer of the Ream surname was a man named Raimundus, who lived in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany around 1150 AD. The Ream name likely originated as an occupational name, derived from the German word “rahm,” which translates to “cream” in English. People with the Ream surname may have been associated with the dairy industry in medieval Germany.
Within the United States, the Ream surname is most popular in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is also frequently found in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Virginia. Due to Pennsylvania's long presence in American history, the Ream name is perhaps most prominent in the Keystone State.
In the 2000 U. S. Census, the Ream surname ranked only #44645 in terms of population. This implies that the Ream name is relatively rare today. That being said, it is commonly-enough found that anyone searching for relatives with this last name should be able to find ample records of past and present individuals with the Ream surname.
Variations of the surname Ream
The surname Ream is of German origin and has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Rehm, Rem, Reim, Rehme, Reims, Rehmann, Rehming, Reimann, Reiman, Reimers, Reimanns, Reiher, Reiff, and Reister.
The Rehm surname is probably derived from the Gothic 'Raihman', a personal name derived from the adjective 'raiha', meaning 'strong' or 'powerful'. It may also be derived from a place name, or a shortened version of a longer name such as Rehberger, Rehling or Rehingen.
The Rem surname is derived from the Middle High German 'reme', meaning 'edge' or 'border', denoting someone who lived on the edge of a village or town.
The Reim and Rehme surnames are derived from the Old German 'Rhoco', meaning 'fame' or 'glory', and is likely linked to a famous ancestor. The Reims surname is derived from the Middle High German 'Rîm', denoting someone descended from Rîm, the name of an ancient German hero.
The Rehmann, Rehming and Reimann surnames are derived from 'Rhagimann', a personal name meaning 'ruler of people'. It is likely based on an old German word 'rigimon', meaning 'leader'.
The Reiman, Reimers, Reimanns and Reiher surnames are derived from the Old German 'Rîgan', meaning 'power' or 'ruler'. They likely come from ancestral leaders in the area.
The Reiff surname is derived from the Old High German 'Rivius', meaning 'channel' or 'year'. It likely denotes someone living near a waterway or who was born in a particular year.
Finally, the Reister surname is derived from the Middle High German 'Rister', meaning 'roaster', denoting someone who liked to roast food.
Famous people with the name Ream
- Lisa Ream: Professional cyclist, six-time track world champion and three-time National Champion.
- Dave Ream: Former Olympic pole vaulter for Canada in 2016.
- Myrtle Ream: Actress, best known for her roles in 1920’s films, “The Road to Happiness” and “One Glorious Night”.
- Kirby Ream: Motion graphics and digital media artist.
- Jay Ream: Voice actor, working on various animated series.
- Tony Ream: Visual effects specialist, worked on films such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King”.
- Bobby Ream: Professional football player and coach, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
- Rachel Ream: Singer and songwriter, most known for her duet albums with her sister, Laura.
- Kelly Ream: Professional skier, competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Lisa Ream-Cochran: Entrepreneur and inventor, known for her invention of the "Broom Broom" floor cleaner.