Show ContentsRedding History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Redding

What does the name Redding mean?

Redding is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in the village of Reading found in the county of Berkshire. 1 2 3 The surname Redding 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. 4

"This place is unquestionably of great antiquity, but whether it owes its foundation to the Romans or to the Saxons is a matter involved in great doubt. Its name rather tends to strengthen the supposition that its origin is to be attributed to the latter people, the term Reading being most probably derived from the Saxon words Rhea, 'a river' or 'an overflowing,' and Ing, 'a meadow.' "5

Early Origins of the Redding family

The surname Redding 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 rolls proved the widespread use of the the name with various spellings: Grifin del Ruding in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1246; Richard del Ryding at Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1227 and Sara de Redyngg in Colchester, Essex in 1311. 4

Early Norfolk records show Henry de Reding was Rector of Matlask, Norfolk in 1305; and John de Reding was Rector of Aldeburgh, Norfolk in 1328. 6

"The Readings, who have their principal home in this county, being also now found in Bucks and Oxfordshire, are probably the modern representatives of the Rædings, a Saxon Clan, that gave their name to their settlements in Derbyshire and in the eastern counties." 7

Early History of the Redding family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Redding research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1621, 1645, 1667, 1674, 1677, 1686, 1692, 1714, 1744, 1747, 1748, 1757, 1758 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Redding History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Redding Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Redding family name include Reading, Reding, Redding, Reddin and others.

Early Notables of the Redding 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 Redding Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Redding Ranking

In the United States, the name Redding is the 2,054th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 8


Redding migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Redding surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Redding Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joseph Redding, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 9
  • Myles Redding, who landed in Massachusetts in 1634 9
  • Mr. Jerremy Redding, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 10
  • Henry Redding, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 9
  • James Redding, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Redding Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Captain Redding, who served in the Second New Jersey Regiment in 1778
Redding Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Casper Redding, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 9
  • John D Redding, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
  • F W Redding, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 9

Redding migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Redding Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Henry Redding U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 11
  • Mr. William Redding U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 11

Redding migration to Australia +

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

Redding Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Redding, English convict who was convicted in Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. James Redding, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Charles Redding, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Henry Redding, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1839 15
  • Miss Julia Redding, (b. 1820), aged 21, English needle woman who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Redding 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:

Redding Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Ann Redding, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of the Avon" in 1859
  • Eliza Redding, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of the Avon" in 1859
  • Thomas Redding, aged 22, a carter, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Mary Redding, aged 21, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Emma Redding, aged 2, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Redding (post 1700) +

  • Otis Redding (1941-1967), American Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winning soul singer, probably best known for his famous song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame
  • Otis Redding III (1964-2023), American singer for The Reddings, an American funk, soul and disco band, son of Otis Ray Redding Jr.
  • Timothy James "Tim" Redding (b. 1978), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Josiah Redding (b. 1983), American musician, of the group The Redding Brothers
  • Gene Redding (b. 1945), American singer
  • George Redding, American politician, Member of New Jersey State Senate from Cape May County, 1945-48 17
  • Eva B. Redding, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1944 17
  • Charles L. Redding, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, 1927-32, 1933 17
  • Carl Redding, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 90th District, 1976, 1978 17
  • Benjamin S. Redding, American politician, Secretary of State of California, 1863-67 17
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Redding 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. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. 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)
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. 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
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  15. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Orleana.htm
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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