Show ContentsReddin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Reddin belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the village of Reading found in the county of Berkshire. The surname Reddin is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the surname was originally derived from the Old English word rydding which simply refers to an area that has been cleared.

Early Origins of the Reddin family

The surname Reddin was first found in Sussex. Some of the earliest records of the surname were: Robert de Reading (died 1325), English historian and a monk of Westminster; and John of Reading (Latin: Johannes de Reading, Johannes Radingia) who died 1346. He was an English Franciscan theologian and scholastic philosopher and follower of Duns Scotus. He wrote a commentary on the Four Books of Sentences written by Peter Lombard around 1320, at the University of Oxford. In 1322, he accepted a teaching position at Avignon and it was there that he died.

Early History of the Reddin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reddin research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1645, 1667, 1674, 1677, 1686, 1692, 1744, 1747, 1748, 1757, 1758 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Reddin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reddin Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Reddin include Reading, Reding, Redding, Reddin and others.

Early Notables of the Reddin family

Distinguished members of the family include John Reading (1588-1667), English Calvinist and Biblical commentator; Sir James Reading; John Reading (c.1645-1692), English composer and organist, Choir master of Chichester Cathedral (1674-1677); and...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Reddin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reddin Ranking

In the United States, the name Reddin is the 17,591st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Reddin migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Reddin were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Reddin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Marmad Reddin, who landed in Virginia in 1705 2
  • James Reddin who settled in Virginia in 1766
Reddin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William S Reddin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1836 2
  • Maria Reddin, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • Pat Reddin, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1895
  • John Reddin, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1896
Reddin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Dennis Reddin, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Ballyduff, in 1900
  • Nellie Reddin, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Limerick, in 1900
  • Bridgid Reddin, aged 35, who landed in America from London, in 1903
  • Delia Reddin, aged 40, who settled in America from Charleston, in 1906
  • Madge Reddin, aged 21, who settled in America from London, England, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Reddin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Reddin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Eugene Reddin, aged 19 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Washington" departing 9th July 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 26th August 1847 but he died on board 3

Australia Reddin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Reddin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Reddin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bruce" in 1846 4
  • Elizabeth Reddin, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nabob"

New Zealand Reddin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Reddin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Reddin, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874

West Indies Reddin migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 5
Reddin Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Catherin Reddin settled with her husband in Jamaica in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Reddin (post 1700) +

  • Nancy Reddin (b. 1943), American mixed media artist
  • Thomas Reddin (1916-2004), retired Los Angeles police chief
  • Keith Reddin (b. 1956), American actor and playwright
  • Martin Charles "Tony" Reddin (1919-2015), Irish hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Galway and Tipperary senior team
  • Dr. William James Reddin (1930-1999), British-born management behavioralist, a theorist, a writer, and a management consultant
  • Ger Reddin (b. 1988), Irish sportsperson
  • Sally Reddin, paralympic athlete from Great Britain
  • Amanda Reddin (b. 1965), British gymnastics coach, and former Olympic gymnast


The Reddin 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: Dieu defende la droit
Motto Translation: God defends the right.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 93)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BRUCE 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846LadyBruce.htm
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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