REDDING
Redding is an English surname that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is predominantly found in England, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and several European countries.
The name originates from the Old English word hreod, meaning “reed”. The surname is therefore a topographical one, traditionally given to a person who lived near a reedbed or worked with reeds. The earliest recorded forms of the name appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Reddinges, and it is recorded in the Anglo‑Saxon Chronicle of 872 as Readingum.
Another accepted derivation is locational, from the parish and town of Reading in Berkshire. The town itself was named after the Readingas, an Anglo‑Saxon tribe thought to have had red hair or a ruddy complexion. In the 13th century there are examples of the name such as Richard del Ryding of Yorkshire in 1277 and Henry de Reding, the rector of Matlask in Norfolk in 1305.
A patronymic origin is also suggested, whereby the name means “son of Red”, with Red being a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. This interpretation is supported by the variations in spelling that include the prefixes de and del, which were used in medieval documents to denote lineage or affiliation.
During the 12th and 13th centuries the surname and its variants—such as Reading, Readings, Reddin, Reddings, and Reddinges—rose in popularity. One of the earliest recorded spellings is Grifin del Ruding, dated 1246 in the Assize Court Rolls of Lancashire, during the reign of King Henry XI.
In the early 17th century a man named James Redding is recorded as having embarked from London on the ship Bonaventure, bound for Virginia in January 1634. He was among the first settlers of the British colonies to bear the name in America.
Today the surname is most frequently encountered in the United States, where it is common in the states of Alabama, Texas, California and Georgia. In England it is most frequent in London, while in Canada it is found mainly in Ontario. In Australia it appears primarily in Victoria. The name also occurs in West African countries such as Trinidad, Jamaica, Grenada and Barbados, as well as in France, Germany and Norway.
Records and genealogical studies reveal that in the United States individuals bearing the name have pursued a range of professional fields, with management, business, finance, sales and marketing being the most common occupations reported in recent surveys.
Across the centuries, the holders of the name have historically been regarded as industrious, persistent and willing to embrace new challenges. This reputation is reflected in contemporary descriptions of the surname as evoking hard work, perseverance and a spirit of adventure.
In sum, the surname Redding has a clearly documented English origin, with roots that can be inferred either from natural features such as reeds, from a place name in Berkshire, or from a patronymic derivation. It possesses a variety of historical spellings and has spread from the British Isles to the wider world through migration, where it continues to be recognised as a distinctive and respected family name.
Typical given names associated with the Redding surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Deborah
- Diana
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Joanne
- Julie
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Redding in...
Braille
⠗⠑⠙⠙⠊⠝⠛
Morse
.-..-..-....-.--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,523 people named Redding in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,481st most common surname in Britain. Around 39 in a million people in Britain are named Redding.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Redding
- Noel Redding - Rock and roll guitarist (1945 to 2003)
- Otis Redding - American singer, songwriter and record producer (1941 to 1967)
- Scott Redding - Motorcycle racer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.