Reis

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Reis is the Portuguese word for kings, the German word for rice, and an Ottoman-era Turkish title for a naval captain.

Surname

Reis is a common surname in the Portuguese language, namely in Portugal and Brazil. It was originally a Christian devotional family name of the Middle Ages, probably due to the Portuguese name for the Biblical Magi, the Reis Magos (the Magi Kings). Sometimes the surname is dos Reis (of the Kings). The Reis surname does not denote a single genealogical origin and there are many different families bearing that surname. The Reis etymology is probably from the Latin Rex ("King"), and it is noticeable that it has relations with the German Reich ("Kingdom, Empire"), and the Dutch Rijk (also "Kingdom, Empire"), the Germanic names Rick, Rich, Richard, etc.

Reis is also a common surname in the German language (where its alternative meaning is "rice"), a historically famous epithet derived from military rank in Turkey (e.g., Piri Reis), and was also used by some European Jews.

It is a name associated with a great number of different people:

Currency

Reis (or similar words) is the plural form of a number of currencies called real, past and present:

  • The real (plural reais) is the present currency of Brazil.
  • The Spanish real (plural reales) was a currency of Spain.
  • The Portuguese real (plural reis or réis) was a currency of Portugal and Brazil.

Military rank

Reis (sometimes spelled Rais) was a Turkish military rank akin to that of captain, that was commonly added to the officer's name as an epithet. Examples include:

The rank Reis Pasha referred to an Admiral,[citation needed] while the Kapudan Pasha (akin to Grand Admiral; literally "Captain Pasha") title referred to the commander-in-chief of the Ottoman Navy fleet.

Places

There are several places around the world named Reis:

  • Dirce Reis, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Reis Township, Polk County, Minnesota, U.S.
  • Reis Magos, former name of Nova Almeida, Espírito Santo, Brazil
    • Reis Magos, a river at whose mouth the town of Nova Almeida stands
  • Caldas de Reis, Portugal

Other

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