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Show ContentsReed History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Reed surname is derived from the Old English word "read," meaning "red." It is most likely that the name was used as nickname for someone with red hair, before becoming their surname. 1 2

In other instances, the Reed surname no doubt came from some of the places so named in Britain, such as Read, Lancashire, Rede, Suffolk, and Reed in Hertfordshire. 3 4

Early Origins of the Reed family

The surname Reed was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from early times. One branch was found at Troughend-Ward. "The present house was built in the last century (c. 1700) by EIrington Reed, Esq., who also greatly improved the place by planting, and whose ancestors were settled in the township at a remote date. " 5

Another branch of the family was found at Weston in Suffolk. "Weston Hall, the ancient seat of the family of Rede, a handsome mansion in the Elizabethan style, was partly taken down within a few years, and the remainder converted into a farmhouse." 5

The first record of the family dates back to Saxon times when Leofwine se Reade was listed as an Old English Byname (1016-1020.) Years later, William Red was found in the Pipe Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1176 and William le Red was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332. In Lancashire, the first record there was that of Hugo le Rede in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1220 and later in Sussex we found Hamo le Reed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1296. Later in Sussex, Thomas Read was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. In Hertfordshire, the Curia Regis Rolls include an entry for Ralph de Rede in 1203 and in Suffolk, John de Rede was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries for the family: Godwin le Rede, Norfolk; and Roger le Rede, Herefordshire. 7 The source Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. included an entry for Robert le Rede, Surrey, Henry III-Edward I. 8

In Somerset, William Red and Robertte Rede were listed 1 Edward III (in the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 9

Early History of the Reed family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reed research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1385, 1394, 1396, 1397, 1415, 1416, 1502, 1511, 1519, 1541, 1551, 1579, 1587, 1588, 1593, 1600, 1606, 1609, 1617, 1619, 1620, 1624, 1626, 1644, 1669, 1683, 1687, 1692, 1694, 1705, 1715, 1721, 1745, 1758, 1795, 1866, 1868 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Reed History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reed Spelling Variations

The name, Reed, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Read, Reid, Reed, Reede, Redd, Reade and others.

Early Notables of the Reed family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • William Rede or Reade (died 1385), Bishop of Chichester, a native of the diocese of Exeter; Robert Reed (died 1415), Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Bishop of Carlisle and Bishop of Chichester; Sir J...
  • Wilmot Redd (Read, Reed) (died September 22, 1692), was one of the victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692; and George Read of Delaware was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independ...
  • Sir Robert Rede (died 1519), was Chief justice of the common pleas, son of William and Joan Rede. John de Reede (1593-1683), Baron Reede was son of Gerard van Reede, a Dutchman. He became a canon or d...

Reed World Ranking

In the United States, the name Reed is the 55th most popular surname with an estimated 303,414 people with that name. 10 However, in Canada, the name Reed is ranked the 682nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,650 people with that name. 11 And in Australia, the name Reed is the 300th popular surname with an estimated 11,863 people with that name. 12 New Zealand ranks Reed as 280th with 2,181 people. 13 The United Kingdom ranks Reed as 183rd with 30,092 people. 14

Ireland Migration of the Reed family to Ireland

Some of the Reed family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 152 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Reed migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Reed surname who came to North America were:

Reed Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Esdras Reed, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1640 15
  • Amey Reed, who landed in Maryland in 1663 15
  • Barbary Reed, who landed in Maryland in 1665 15
  • Ebenezar Reed, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 15
Reed Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Reed, who landed in North Carolina in 1701 15
  • Anne Reed, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 15
  • Alexander Reed, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 15
  • Anna Lydia Reed, aged 11, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 15
  • Hans Jacob Reed, aged 45, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Reed Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Reed, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 15
  • Isaac H Reed, who landed in Texas in 1835 15
  • Christopher Reed, who arrived in New York in 1836 15
  • Miss Grace Reed, (b. 1813), aged 24, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 16
  • Henry Reed, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Reed migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Reed Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • David Reed, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Abigal Reed, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Elisha Reed, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • George Reed, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Mr. Carlow Ludwell Reed U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 412 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Reed Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Reed, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
  • Isabella Reed, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
  • Mr. Nicholas Reed, (b. 1823), aged 32, Cornish labourer, from St. Ives, Cornwall, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 18

Australia Reed migration to Australia +

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

Reed Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Reed, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. Thomas Reed, (b. 1801), aged 18, Irish labourer who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 3rd October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 20
  • Mr. John Reed, (b. 1796), aged 24, English brick layer who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1834 21
  • Thomas Reed, Welsh convict from Brecon, Wales, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 22
  • Thomas Reed, English convict from Southampton, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Reed 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:

Reed Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Reed, aged 34, a shepherd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
  • Mary Reed, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
  • Mr. James Reed, (b. 1806), aged 34, British shepherd travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 24
  • Mrs. Mary Reed, (b. 1814), aged 26, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th November 1840 24
  • James Reed, aged 35, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Reed 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. 25
Reed Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Reed, aged 19, who landed in St Christopher in 1634 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Reed (post 1700) +

  • Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (1942-2013), American rock musician and songwriter, founding member of The Velvet Underground and best remembered for his song Walk on the Wild Side
  • George Robert Reed CM, SOM (1939-2023), American college football and Canadian Football League player
  • David Benson Reed (1927-2023), American first Bishop of Colombia and the sixth Bishop of Kentucky in the Episcopal Church
  • Willis Reed Jr. (1942-2023), American basketball player, coach and general manager who spent his professional playing career (1964–1974) with the New York Knicks, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, voted one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History"
  • John Burwell "Jack" Reed (1933-2022), American Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees (1961-1963), popularly known as Mantle's "caddie."
  • Tom Reed (1945-2022), American college football player and head coach at Miami University from 1978 to 1982 and at North Carolina State University from 1983 to 1985
  • Bruce Franklin Reed (1954-2021), American professional wrestler and football player, better known by the ring name Butch Reed
  • Alto Reed (1948-2020), born Thomas Neal Cartmell, an American saxophonist best known as a long-time member of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
  • Rick Alan Reed (1950-2020), American umpire in Major League Baseball
  • Joel M. Reed (1933-2020), American film director, producer and screenwriter; he died from the COVID-19 virus
  • ... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Melvin W Reed (1966-1985), American Private from Tacoma, Washington, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 26
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. George Percival Reed (1921-1941), Australian Writer from Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 27
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Hector L Reed (b. 1916), English Corporal serving for the Royal Marine from Hayling Island, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 28
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William Samuel Reed, British Chief Warrant Officer , who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. William Reed, British Steward, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 29
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Arthur Reed, British Ordnance Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 30
HMS Royal Oak
  • William George Frederick Reed (1911-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy Reserve aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 31
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Charles S. Reed (d. 1912), aged 43, English Bedroom Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
  • Mr. James George Reed (d. 1912), aged 19, Welsh Third Class passenger from Penarth, Glamorgan who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. James Lawrence Reed, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Ray Ellison Reed, American Seaman Second Class from Oklahoma, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 33
  • Mr. James Buchanan Reed Jr., American Storekeeper First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 33

The Reed 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: Pax copia
Motto Translation: Peace, plenty.

Suggested Readings for the name Reed +

  • Dunkin-Reid and Garner-McGraw-Mobley Families of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama by Dean Smith Cress.
  • The Read Family History, 1740 to 1978 by Mildred Edgington.
  • The Reads, an American Saga by Dorothy Lutomski.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  9. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  13. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  14. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  15. 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)
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  17. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  18. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/castle-forbes
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  22. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  23. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
  24. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  26. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  27. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  28. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  29. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  30. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  31. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  32. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  33. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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