Rees (/riːs/ REESS)^[1] is a very common Welsh name that traces back to the ancient Celts known as the Britons.^{[citation needed]} 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. Rees is also a German surname.

Notable individuals named Rees include the following:

• Abraham Rees (1743–1825), compiler of Rees's Cyclopaedia and a botanist
• Alan Rees (1938–2024), 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
• Betty Anne Rees (1943—2024), American 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 (1913–1983), Welsh golfer
• Dai Rees (scientist) (1936–2021), British biochemist and science administrator
• Dan Rees (rugby), Welsh international rugby player
• David Rees (disambiguation), several people
• Don Rees, warden of Hugh Stewart Hall in the University of Nottingham for 29 years
• Eberhard Rees (1908-1998), rocketry pioneer and the second director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
• Eleri Rees (born 1953), Welsh judge
• 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
• 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 J. Rees III (born 1951), American judge and diplomat
• Jason Rees, Welsh footballer
• 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 musician
  • 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 (1940–2003), 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
• Norman J. Rees (c. 1906 – 1976), double agent for USSR and FBI
• Peter Rees (1926–2008), British Conservative party politician
• Paul Rees (born 1986), British racing driver
• Robert Rees (disambiguation), several people
• Ronnie Rees, Welsh international footballer
• Roger Rees (1944–2015), Welsh 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

• Rees (disambiguation)
• Reece (disambiguation)
• Reese (disambiguation)
• Rees-Jones
• Rees-Mogg
• Rhys