Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Reed surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Reed mean?

Reed is an English and Scottish surname. It derives from the Middle English word 'reed' or 'rede' (red). It was typically given as a descriptive nickname for somebody who had red hair, or a particularly ruddy complexion, and passed down to their heirs. The 'Reid' variant of this name is more predominantly found in Scotland and the North of England.

Alternative variations of the name Reed

Reed, Reede, Reid, Reyd, Reet, Reide, Read, Reade

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Reeds.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Reed family's history

Where do most Reeds live?

In 1921, most Reeds lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Reeds

How common is your surname?

146th most common surname in the UK

We have 231,000 records for the Reed surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Reeds most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Reeds.

What are the most common Reed first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Reed family members

Common jobs for Reeds

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Reeds in 1921
Dressmaker

1,039

Laundress

681

Domestic Servant

607

General Servant Domestic

607

House Servant

470

Common Male occupations for Reeds in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

1,214

General Labourer

1,015

Coal Miner

922

Farmer

720

Farm Hands

685

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 710,000 family trees with the Reed surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Reeds.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial