Show ContentsRied History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Ried surname are uncertain. In some instances, it was no doubt derived from the Old English word "read," meaning "red," and was a nickname that came to be a surname. Either way, we may conclude that it meant "red-haired" or "ruddy complexioned." [1] [2]

To confuse matters more, there are also instances where the surname Ried is thought to be derived from one of various place names, such as Read in Lancashire, and Rede in Suffolk.

Early Origins of the Ried family

The surname Ried was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland where the name has been found since the 14th century. Ancient charters show the name as Rufus (Latinized,) records include an Ada Rufus who witnessed resignation of the lands of Ingilbristoun in 1204; and a William Rufus, who was a juror on an inquest on the lands of Padevinan in 1259. "Gilbert 'le Rede' of Coul was committed to prison and died there in 1296. Red is found as a surname in Aberdeen in 1317, and it is one of the oldest in the parish of Kildrummy. Patrick dictus Rede was on an assize at Rane in 1335, John Reed was collector of tithe in the deaneries of Stormonth and Atholl in 1362, and James Reed was bailie of the burgh of Stirling in 1364. Reeds were at one period a numerous Clan in Kyle. The first of the name there recorded is probably William Rede, son of John Reede. who had a confirmation of the lands and pertinents of Bairskemyn in Kyle in 1375. " [3]

For the purposes of Clan identification, the family name Ried is officially a sept of the Clan Robertson and as such is entitled to the Clan Badge and Crest of the Robertsons.

Early History of the Ried family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ried research. Another 359 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1335, 1357, 1362, 1364, 1375, 1376, 1439, 1494, 1543, 1558, 1586, 1618, 1624, 1625, 1639, 1641, 1721, 1760, 1778, 1806, 1843 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Ried History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ried Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ried, Reid, Read, Reed and others.

Early Notables of the Ried family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Robert Reid (died 1558), Scottish abbot of Kinloss and bishop of Orkney, son of John Reid of Aikenhead, who was killed at Flodden; Thomas Redi, Read or Rhaedus (died 1624), Latin secretary to King James I, second son of James Reid, minister of Banchory Ternan, Kincardineshire; Alexander Rhead or Reid (1586-1641), a Scottish anatomist and surgeon, whose surname is variously spelt Reid, Read, Reade, Rhead, or Rhaedus, the third son of James Reid, minister of Banchory Ternan, Kincardineshire; and Thomas Reid (d. 1625), who was appointed Latin secretary to King James I of...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ried Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ried Ranking

In the United States, the name Ried is the 18,482nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Ried family to Ireland

Some of the Ried family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ried migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ried Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • A Marg Ried, who landed in America in 1707 [5]
  • Leonhard Ried, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 [5]
  • Casper Ried, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 [5]
Ried Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johan Ried, aged 21, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 [5]
  • Alexander Ried, who arrived in New York, NY in 1835 [5]
  • William Ried, who arrived in New York in 1836 [5]
  • Christoph Ried, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1854 [5]
  • Elisabeth Ried, aged 5, who arrived in New York in 1854 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ried (post 1700) +

  • Wesley Ried, American politician, Farmer-Labor Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1936 [6]
  • Ried Holien, American Republican politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 5th District; Elected 2010 [7]


The Ried Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortitudine et labore
Motto Translation: By fortitute and exertion.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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