Reaves
A surname most likely from an old occupational term for a steward or bailiff, with some cases also influenced by the surname Reeves.
The #2,344 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 19,855 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Reaves is most often explained as a spelling variant of Reeves, which goes back to Old English "gerefa," meaning a local official, steward, or bailiff. Over time, the word developed in Middle English into "reeve," and surnames were formed for people who held that office or who worked for such an official. The final -s can reflect dialect spelling, pronunciation, or a patronymic-like surname ending that became fixed in the family name.
History
The surname is found in England and later in English-speaking countries, especially through migration to North America. In records, Reaves often appears alongside Reeves, with spelling variation common before standard spelling. Some American lines may have become fixed in this form independently of the more common Reeves spelling.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because medieval spelling was far from fixed, the same family could appear as Reeve, Reeves, or Reaves in different records.