Riedy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The origins of the Riedy 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 Riedy is thought to be derived from one of various place names, such as Read in Lancashire, and Rede in Suffolk.

Early Origins of the Riedy family

The surname Riedy 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 Riedy 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 Riedy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riedy 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 Riedy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riedy Spelling Variations

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

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

Migration of the Riedy family to Ireland

Some of the Riedy 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.

Riedy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Riedy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Jacob Riedy, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 4
John Peter Riedy, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 4
Otto Riedy, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 4
Jacob Riedy, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 4
Ludwig Riedy, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 4

Riedy 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:

Riedy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Eliza Riedy, (b. 1825), aged 39, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 5
Mr. John Riedy, (b. 1825), aged 39, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 5
Miss Jane Riedy, (b. 1854), aged 10, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 5
Mr. Joseph W Riedy, (b. 1859), aged 5, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 5
Mr. Charles E Riedy, (b. 1862), aged 2, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ivanhoe" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th June 1864 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Riedy (post 1700) +

Curt Riedy, American writer, known for Come on Down (2011), Exile (2010) and The Pippens: Belly Friends (2008)
John Riedy, American cameraman, known for The Month of August (2002), Caged Hearts (1995) and Children of the Struggle (1999)
Rebecca Riedy (b. 1970), born Rebecca Sue Lamm, an American actress from Kansas City, Missouri, known for Ghost in the Shell (2017), Saints Row IV (2013) and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (2012)
Matt Riedy, American actor and voice actor from Buffalo, New York, known for Devotion (2022), Shameless (2011) and Swagger (2021)
Robert F. "Bob" Riedy (b. 1945), American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (1967-1968)
Walter L. Riedy, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 12th District, 1960 6

The Riedy 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.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html