Rees /ˈriːs/ is a very common Welsh name that traces back to the ancient Celts known as the Britons. The surname was first recorded in Carmarthenshire, and is derived from the personal name Rhys. Rhys is very common in Wales, and some parts of England.
Notable individuals named Rees include the following:
Abraham Rees (1743–1825), compiler of Rees's Cyclopaedia and a botanist
Alan Rees, British Formula One driver
Albert E. Rees (1921–1992) American economist, presidential adviser, and Princeton provost.
Albert E. Rees (actor) 19th-century comic opera actor
Aneurin Rees (1858–1932), Wales rugby union international
Angharad Rees (1949–2012), British actress
Billy Rees (1924–1996), Welsh international footballer
Brinley Rees (1919–2004), British classicist
Celia Rees, British author
Clive Rees, Wales and British Lions rugby union international
Conway Rees (1870–1932), Welsh rugby union international
Coralie Clarke Rees (1908–1972), an Australian author
Dai Rees (born 1913), Welsh golfer
Dai Rees (scientist) (born 1936), British biochemist and science administrator
Dan Rees, Welsh international rugby player
David Rees (disambiguation), several people
Don Rees, warden of Hugh Stewart Hall in the University of Nottingham for 29 years
Elgan Rees, Wales and British Lions rugby union international
Elmer Rees, British geometer
Fernando Rees (born 1985), Brazilian auto racing driver
Gareth Rees (disambiguation), multiple people, including:
Gareth Rees (cricketer) (born 1985), Welsh cricketer
Gareth Rees (motorsport commentator) (born 1969), Welsh motorsport commentator
Gareth Rees (rugby union) (born 1967), former Canadian rugby player
Gareth Rees (software developer) (born 1971), computer programmer responsible for the game Christminster
Gavin Rees (born 1980), Welsh professional boxer
Geraint Rees, British neurologist and neuroscientist
Goronwy Rees (1909-1979), Welsh journalist, academician, memoirist, and Soviet spy
Grover Rees, III (born 1951), U.S. judge and diplomat
Jason Rees (disambiguation)
Jean Rees (1914–2004), British artist
Jeremy Rees (1937–2003), British arts administrator
Jerry Rees, U.S. animator and film director
John Rees (disambiguation), multiple people, including:
John Rees (activist) (born 1957), British political activist and writer
John Rees (journalist), American journalist
Sir John David Rees (1854–1922), colonial administrator in British India and Member of Parliament
John Rees (musician) (1857–1949), Welsh musician
John Rawlings Rees (1890–1969), British psychiatrist
Idwal Rees (1910–1991), Wales rugby union captain
Ivor Rees (1893–1967), Welsh soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross
Katie Rees, a former American beauty queen
Laurence Rees, (born 1957), British historian, author and documentary filmmaker
Leighton Rees (born 1940), Welsh darts player
Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees (1884–1955), Welsh World War I flying ace
Lloyd Rees (1895–1988), Australian landscape painter
Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow (born 1942), British Astronomer Royal
Matt Rees, (born 1967) Welsh novelist
Matthew Rees, Wales and British Lions rugby union international
Merlyn Rees (1920–2006), British Labour party politician and minister
Milsom Rees (1866–1952), Welsh surgeon
Nathan Rees, (born 1968) Australian politician with the Labor Party, and Premier of New South Wales
Nigel Rees (born 1944), English writer and broadcaster
Nigel Rees (footballer) (born 1953), Welsh footballer
Peter Rees (born 1926), British Conservative party politician
Paul Rees (born 1986), British racing driver
Ronnie Rees, Welsh international footballer
Roger Rees (born 1944), British-American actor
Ronnie Rees (born 1944), Welsh footballer
Stuart Rees, director of the Sydney Peace Foundation
Thomas Rees (disambiguation), multiple people, including:
Thomas Rees (Unitarian minister) (1777–1864), Welsh Unitarian minister and scholar
Thomas Rees (Twm Carnabwth) (c. 1806–1876; also known as Twm Carnabwth), Welsh leader of the Rebecca Riots
Thomas Rees (Congregational minister) (1815–1885), Welsh Congregationalist minister
Thomas Ifor Rees (1890–1977), Welsh diplomat and translator
Tom Rees (rugby union) (born 1984), English rugby union player
Tommy Rees (1904–1968), Welsh dual-code rugby player
Thomas Wynford Rees (1898–1959), British soldier in the British Indian Army
William Rees (disambiguation), several people
