Reeve

Reeve
This unusual and interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an occupational name for a steward or bailiff, the precise character of whose duties varied from place to place and at different periods. It derives from the Middle English "reeve", a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "(ge)refa", meaning reeve (steward, bailiff). Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. The surname dates back to the early 13th Century (see below), and early recordings include: Sampson le Reve (1273) in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, and James le Reve (1281) in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London. London Church Records list the christening of Christopher, son of John Reeve, on November 13th 1587 at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, and the marriage of Edward Reeve to Fraunces Dobs on June 21st 1592 at St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. A Coat of Arms granted to a Reeve family is silver, on a black fess engrailed between three blue escallops, three gold eagles displayed. The Crest is a gold eagle's head erased, black collared. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter le Reve, which was dated 1220, in the "Register of the Freemen of Leicester", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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  • Reeve — may refer to: *Reeve (England), an official elected annually by the serfs to supervise lands for a lord *Reeve (Canada), an elected chief executive in some small rural municipalities, although the position is called Mayor in most municipalities… …   Wikipedia

  • Reeve — (auch Bailif , deutsch Vogt , frz. Bailiare ) ist ein englischer Familienname. Er stammt aus dem normannisch geprägten England, wo der Reeve ein Vertreter des Earl (Graf) war, der Verwalter, Steuereintreiber und Schöffe (Ankläger und Richter)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Reeve — (r?v), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The female of the ruff. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reeve — Reeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rove} (r?v); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reeving}.] [Cf. D. reven. See {Reef}, n. & v. t.] (Naut.) To pass, as the end of a pope, through any hole in a block, thimble, cleat, ringbolt, cringle, or the like. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reeve — Reeve, n. [OE. reve, AS. ger[=e]fa. Cf. {Sheriff}.] an officer, steward, bailiff, or governor; used chiefly in compounds; as, shirereeve, now written sheriff; portreeve, etc. Chaucer. Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reeve — (spr. Rihw), Clara, geb. 1725 zu Ipswich in Suffolk, Tochter eines Pfarrers; st. 1803; sie übersetzte Barclay s Argenis unter dem Titel: Der Phönix, 1762, u. schr. die Romane: Der Jugendheld, 1777; Die beiden Erzieher; Die Verbannung, od.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Reeve —   [riːv], Clara, englische Schriftstellerin, * Ipswich 23. 1. 1729, ✝ ebenda 3. 12. 1807; beeinflusst von H. Walpoles »The castle of Otranto« verfasste sie Schauerromane (Gothic Novel), die zu den wichtigsten der Gattung gehören (z. B. »The… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • reeve — [ri:v] n [: Old English; Origin: gerefa] 1.) the official who is in charge of the town governments in some Canadian ↑provinces 2.) an English law officer in the past …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • reeve — [ riv ] noun count 1. ) the president of a town council in Canada 2. ) someone whose job was to look after a large house in Britain in MEDIEVAL times …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • reeve — steward, O.E. gerefa, of unknown origin and with no known cognates. Not connected to Ger. Graf (see MARGRAVE (Cf. margrave)). An Anglo Saxon official of high rank, having local jurisdiction under a king. Cf. SHERIFF (Cf. sheriff) …   Etymology dictionary

  • reeve — ► NOUN historical ▪ a local official, in particular the chief magistrate of a town or district in Anglo Saxon England. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

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