| ![Show Contents]() Red History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Red 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 Red 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 Red familyThe surname Red 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 Red familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Red 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 Red History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Red Spelling VariationsThe name, Red, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Read, Reid, Reed, Reede, Redd, Reade and others. Early Notables of the Red familyNotable 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...
- On the infamous side, Mary Read (died 1721) was an English pirate, chiefly remembered as one of only two women (her comrade, Anne Bonny, was the other) known to have been convicted of piracy during th...
- 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...
Red RankingIn the United States, the name Red is the 6,840th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 10  Migration of the Red family to Ireland
Some of the Red 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.
| Red 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 Red surname who came to North America were:
Red Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- David Red, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 11
- Moses Red, who landed in Virginia in 1696 11
Red Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johan Red, who arrived in New York in 1709 11
- John Red, who landed in Virginia in 1709 11
- Eliza Red, who landed in Virginia in 1711 11
- William Red, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 11
- Avis Red, who landed in Virginia in 1725 11
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Red 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: Red Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- John Red, aged 23, a platelayer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rodney" in 1875
| Contemporary Notables of the name Red (post 1700) | + |
- Hazel Stephen Red, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1996 12
- Red Everette, American NASCAR driver in the 1990s
- Red Grooms (b. 1937), born Charles Rogers Grooms, an American multimedia artist, best known for his colorful pop-art constructions of urban life
- Red Tilson, Canadian former player for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War, eponym of the Red Tilson Trophy, an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League
- Red Burns (1925-2013), Canadian co-founder and chair of the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University
- Red McKelvie, New Zealand singer-songwriter-instrumentalist and session musician
- Red Florey, American Jazz musician who played the tenor sax, became a bandleader and arranger
- Red Faber (1888-1976), American pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Red Barber (1908-1992), American journalist
- Red Norvo (b. 1908), jazz musician
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.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
- 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.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Red migration to the United States 
Red migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
