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A sleek and swift Welsh classic with oodles of history
behind it and a modern feel.
Most likely from an old Welsh term meaning "ardour", "fervour", "glory" and "splendour", no doubt connected to the Welsh rhysu "to rush, to entangle" , rhyswr "combatant, hero, champion" and rhysedd "abundance, excess, glory."
Rhys was very common in the Middle Ages and was borne by many members of the medieval Welsh nobility, the most famous of whom was Welsh hero Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132-1197). One of the earliest bearers recorded is Rhys ap Ithel (c.745—775), King of Glywyssing . His grandson, a later king, was also named Rhys, as were many more succeeding Welsh royals and nobles. The phonetic spelling Hris is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of Cambridgeshire in 1052, and a Rees is listed in the Domesday Book as the 1066 owner of a small holding in Erbistock, Cheshire*.
The name was often transposed into English as Rees, Latinised as Resus, by medieval scribes, and this spelling is prevalent in records right up to the 18th century. In the 16th century the anglicised spelling Rice was also used, most likely as a mispronunciation of Rhys. The popularity of the name, and its abundance of spellings, can be found in the surnames Rhys, Rees, Rice, Reese, Reece, Rease, Prys, Price and Brice.
Rhys is one of the few Welsh names that sustained popular usage even after the suppression of the Welsh language from the 16th to 18th century. It most commonly appears on census and birth records in the spelling Rees - but this is more likely to be due to anglicisation on the part of those recording the name. After 1901, when households filled out their own census forms the original spelling appears more frequently.
On the 1841 UK census 4,067 males are listed with the name: 97% of whom were recorded with the spelling "Rees" and 96.5% living in Wales. By 1861 the figure was a consistent 4,599 (with 89% spelled Rees and 92% living in Wales) and had rised slightly to 5,676 (88% spelled Rees, 3.5% spelled Rhys, 91% in Wales) by the 1881 UK census. The number was still very consistent on the 1911 census at 5,682, but this time the spelling Rees only represented 78.5% while the spelling Rhys had risen to 15%.
In the 20th century the name has gained much more global attention, and has had much more usage outside Wales. Between 1996 and 2008, Rhys has consistently ranked between #49 and #56 in England and Wales. In 2009 Rhys fell to #59 (1208 births), and #65 (1037 births) in 2010. Individually, Rhys ranked #15 in Wales, #74 in England and #50 in Scotland in 2010.
Back in 1996, Reece was the more popular spelling at #41, but has since fallen to #84 (771 births) in 2010. Reese ranked #1241 (20 births) for boys and #1180 (27 births) for girls. Rees only had 4 births.
* Rhys ap Ithel (c.745–775), king of Glywyssing.
* Rhys ap Arthfael (fl c. 830s), king of Glywyssing.
* Rhys ap Owain (c.1005–1035), Prince of Morgannwg.
* Rhys ab Owain (d. 1078), King of Deheubarth.
* Rhys ap Tewdwr (c.1065–1093), King of Deheubarth.
* Rhys ap Gruffydd "Lord Rhys"(1132–1197) was arguably one of the most important leaders in Welsh history. He was a renowned warrior who kept Wales free from English domination.
* Rhys Gethin (d. 1405) was a great general for Owain Glyndwr in the 13th century.
* Rhys Muldoon (b.1965), Australian actor.
* Rhys Hughes (b.1966), Welsh writer.
* Rhys Ifans (b. 1967), Welsh actor.
Rees, Rice, Reece, Reese (Anglicised)
HREES (Welsh) REES (Anglicised) [key]
Carys Bethan Isla Caitlin Seren Megan
Owen Evan Bryn Jago Keir Jamie
Cosy Celtic Lively Lads Short & Sweet
If you like Rhys you may also like:
Finn, Vaughn, Lloyd, Gethin, Declan, Lorcan, Ruan, Laird, Dylan, Riordan
This post was revised August 2012.
Posted at 10:50 AM in Celtic Names, Name of the Week, Namesakes | Permalink