415,032 Reed members around the world

Reed Family History

While the Reid surname is popular in Ireland it is acutally of Scottish descent from 700AD meaning "red". 

SURNAME

Reed (Variants: Reede)

The first mention of the nickname derivation appears before the Norman Conquest where Leofwine se Reade is mentioned in the records for 1016—20 in Kent. 

There was an Old English word ‘ried’-‘a clearing’, giving rise to place names Read and Reed, from which some surnames would be derived. Other variants include English Read and Scottish Reid. Another possible origin for Reed could be from the occupational surnames Reader, Reeder, Readman, Reedman, and Redman- ‘reed-man, reed-cutter, thatcher’. In Middle English, the name would be given to someone with a ruddy complexion or red hair.

The motto or ‘war cry’ for Reed dating back as early as 14th century, translated to peace and plenty.

An example of the Reed surname, that is derived from a location, is the the valley of Redesdale and the River Rede that runs through it in Northumberland.

In 1891, the frequency in England and Wales for Reed was 24,505 with a few 1,558 occurrences in Scotland. In 1881, the surname was recorded as being one of the most frequent in the Plymouth area with 142 residing in the district. In the same year, it was reported that Agricultural Labourer, Farmer and Labourer were the top 3 reported jobs, with Agricultural Labourer being the most common occupation. A less common occupation for the Reed family was Coal Miner.

Walter Reed (1861—1902), American army physician conducted decisive experiments that proved typhoid germs are transmitted by the mosquito. His findings led to the elimination of yellow fever in Havana during the Spanish-American War, and later in Panama during the building of the Canal.

William Reed, a British convict from London was transported aboard the ‘Ann’, settling in New South Wales, Australia.

SOURCES: 1881, 1891 Census

1881 Census in Plymouth

Dictionary of American Family Homes, P Hanks OUP 2003

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, H.B. Guppy, London 1890

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, P.Hanks, Coats, McClure OUP 2016

1860 Lower, Mark A Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom, London: J.R Smith. Public Domain

1857 Arthur, William An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain

https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809

J.M.P