REID
Reid Surname
The name Reid is principally recognised as a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin. It derives from the Gaelic word ruadh, meaning “red”, and was originally employed as a nickname for an individual with red hair or a ruddy complexion. In this sense the surname reflects a descriptive tradition common among Celtic societies, and it subsequently developed into a hereditary family name that is now widespread throughout Scotland and other English‑speaking nations.
Historical records, however, reveal that the surname possesses a degree of onomastic complexity. Variant spellings such as Read, Reade, Reed, Red and Redd have been documented from the early medieval period. One line of evidence links the name to the Old English pre‑7th‑century word read, also meaning “red”, suggesting an Anglo‑Saxon origin for bearers who may have been identified by a similar physical characteristic. Early examples include William Red in the Gloucestershire Pipe Rolls of 1176 and Gilbert le Rede of Coul, Scotland, in 1296.
A second strand of interpretation proposes a locational derivation. Places named Read in Lancashire, Rede in Suffolk, and Reed in Hertfordshire provide alternative sources, each rooted in Old English terms describing local features – for instance roegheafod (deer‑occupied land), hreod (reeds), and ryht (brushwood). Documented individuals such as Ralph de Rede (Curia Regis, Hertfordshire, 1203) illustrate this geographical association.
The third hypothesis regards the name as topographical, stemming from the Old English ried, denoting a clearing. Records of Roger de la Rede in the Devonshire Pipe Rolls of 1208 support this interpretation. The earliest known spelling of the name appears as Leofwine se Reade in the Kentish by‑names of 1016, during the reign of King Canute. Notable bearers include Joseph Reid (1843‑1917) of Ayrshire, whose invention of the Reid oil burner materially advanced the American oil industry.
Typical given names associated with the Reid surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Read
- Reade
- Reed
- Reader
- Raid
- Red
- Reda
- Rad
- Raida
- Raad
- Rade
- Radd
- Reado
- Ready
- Reaid
- Radde
- Raed
- Reads
- Raidi
- Raido
- Redae
- Reades
- Ried
- Redi
- Erid
- Rei
- Reide
- Raade
- Raat
- Rada
- Radai
- Radau
- Radda
- Raddi
- Raddie
- Radi
- Radia
- Radie
- Radio
- Rado
- Radoi
- Radu
- Radue
- Raidy
- Rait
- Raita
- Raiti
- Raitt
- Raot
- Rat
- Rata
- Rate
- Rateau
- Rati
- Ratia
- Ratiu
- Rato
- Ratt
- Ratta
- Ratte
- Rattee
- Ratti
- Rattie
- Ratto
- Rattu
- Rattue
- Ratu
- Raud
- Rauda
- Raut
- Rauta
- Rautio
- Rautu
- Rayt
- Raytt
- Readdie
- Readie
- Reat
- Reatt
- Reaud
- Redah
- Reday
- Redd
- Redda
- Reddi
- Reddie
- Reddy
- Rede
- Redei
- Reder
- Redew
- Redey
- Redie
- Redl
- Redo
- Redw
- Redy
- Reead
- Reede
- Reeder
- Reedes
- Reedie
- Reeds
- Reedy
- Reeid
- Reet
- Reeta
- Reiad
- Reidie
- Reidl
- Reids
- Reidy
- Reit
- Reittie
- Reod
- Ret
- Reta
- Rete
- Reti
- Rett
- Retta
- Rettie
- Reud
- Reut
- Reutt
- Rewd
- Rewt
- Reyte
- Rhead
- Rheade
- Rheid
- Riad
- Riadi
- Riat
- Riatt
- Rid
- Rida
- Ridd
- Ridde
- Riddie
- Ride
- Rideau
- Rido
- Ridu
- Riede
- Riedi
- Riedl
- Riedo
- Riedy
- Riet
- Rietti
- Rioda
- Riot
- Riotto
- Rit
- Rita
- Rite
- Riti
- Rito
- Ritt
- Ritta
- Ritte
- Rittie
- Ritto
- Road
- Roade
- Roadie
- Roat
- Roata
- Roate
- Rod
- Roda
- Rodd
- Rodda
- Rodde
- Roddie
- Rode
- Rodea
- Rodi
- Rodia
- Rodie
- Rodio
- Rodo
- Roed
- Roede
- Roet
- Roett
- Rohda
- Rohde
- Roitt
- Rood
- Roode
- Roodie
- Roodt
- Root
- Roote
- Rot
- Rota
- Rote
- Roti
- Rotie
- Roto
- Rott
- Rotta
- Rotti
- Rotto
- Rouat
- Roud
- Roude
- Roudeau
- Rouet
- Rout
- Route
- Routt
- Royd
- Royde
- Rud
- Ruda
- Rudd
- Rudda
- Rudde
- Ruddie
- Rude
- Rudi
- Rudie
- Rudo
- Rudoe
- Rudue
- Rueda
- Ruedi
- Ruet
- Ruete
- Ruette
- Ruid
- Ruitt
- Ruot
- Rut
- Ruta
- Rute
- Ruto
- Rutt
- Rutta
- Rutte
- Rutti
- Ruud
- Ryd
- Ryda
- Rydd
- Ryde
- Ryte
- Whrite
- Whyrtte
- Wrait
- Wrate
- Wratt
- Wrd
- Wrede
- Wride
- Wriedt
- Write
- Writt
- Wroat
- Wroot
- Wrout
- Wrutt
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Reid in...
Braille
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Reid are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 63,376 people named Reid in the UK. That makes it the 104th most common surname in Britain. Around 973 in a million people in Britain are named Reid.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Reid
- John Reid - Scottish music manager
- Susanna Reid - Television presenter
- Richard Reid - Terrorist
- Mike Reid - Actor (1940 to 2007)
- Anne Reid - Actress
- Sheila Reid - Actress
- Riley Reid - American pornographic actress
- Peter Reid - Football player and manager
- Alex Reid - Mixed martial arts fighter
- Beryl Reid - Actress (1919 to 1996)
- Terry Reid - Musician
- Tara Reid - American actress
- Harry Reid - Actor
- Keith Reid - Lyricist
- Alex Reid - Actress
- Rory Reid - Journalist and television presenter
- Steven Reid - Football player
- John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan - Politician
- Jim Reid - Singer
- Storm Reid - Actress
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.