Submitted Name Save Type Surname (from nickname) Usage Scandinavian Pronounced Pron. REES Edit Status Status Contributor Contrib.AngelM0113 on 6/21/2017 Meaning & History Nickname from ris 'twigs', 'scrub', or a habitational name from any of several places so named in Denmark. Norwegian: habitational name from any of five farmsteads named Ris, from Old Norse hrís 'brushwood'.