These surnames have two distinct origins. The most usual derivation is from the nickname ‘reed’ or ‘rede’, which is Middle English for red. Thus the name would be given to someone with a ruddy complexion or red hair. This latter fact, together with its prevalence in East Anglia, the north­eastern counties of England, and Scotland (where it is spelt Reid), suggests that some of the original holders of this name were of Norse origin-though the name has long been wide-spread throughout the land.

The Old English word ‘read’-‘red’, also occurs in some place names, as perhaps in the Cumberland Redmayne which might mean ‘red stone’. It appears as a personal name Reada-‘the red one’, in Reading (Berkshire), ‘the place where the people called after Reāda live’. But not all examples of Reading as a surname necessarily allude to the Berkshire surname. Some may derive from places called Reading (in Kent), Reddings (Worcestershire), Redding Wood (Herefordshire), and so on. There was an Old English word ‘ried’-‘a clearing’, giving rise to place names Read and Reed, from which some surnames would be derived.

Finally, there is a third possible origin, an Old English word ‘hreod’-‘reed’, which gives us the place names Readett, Reditt etc.-‘reed-bed’, and the occupational surnames Reader, Reeder, Readman, Reedman, and Redman-‘reed-man, reed-cutter, thatcher’.

The surname Read is one of the oldest in the records. The first mention of the nickname derivation appears before the Norman Conquest in the earliest Kent annals. Here Leofwine se Reade is mentioned in the records for 1016—20. After the Norman Conquest, this form of Read (and sometimes the alternative variation) often became Latinised to Rufus (as in William Rufus, William the Conqueror’s son).

The earliest mention of the place-name derivation is in the 1160 records for Sussex where one Alwin de Larede is mentioned.

Reids have made a notable contribution to the fine arts on two continents. Sir George Reid, Scottish landscape and portrait painter, headed the Royal Scottish Academy during 1891—1902. His paintings hang in museums in London, Edinburgh, Oxford, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. He is also noted for his book illustrations. Canadian George Andrew Reid’s career was remarkably similar. Born in Canada in 1860, he served as president of his country’s Royal Academy and later headed the Ontario College of Art.

Henry Fielding Reid was an American seismologist who developed the ‘elastic rebound’ theory explaining earthquake mechanics (1911).

Down-to-earth eighteenth-century philosopher Thomas Reid displayed one of the Scotsman’s most basic qualities when he opposed the empirical scepticism of Locke and Hume with his ‘philosophy of common sense’. His approach accepted the existence of things and didn’t try to make subjective mental phenomena of them. Similarly, his system’s morality was based on an intuitive perception of ethics. Such views led to professorships at both Aberdeen and Glasgow.

American army physician Walter Reed (1861—1902) conducted decisive experiments that proved typhoid germs are transmitted by the mosquito. His findings led to the elimination of yellow fever in Havana during the Spanish-American War, and later in Panama during the building of the Canal.

Because Reid has so many spelling variations (Reed, Read, Ried) and because two roots are involved (‘red’ and ‘reed’) this name is notably hard to properly relate to geographic features and place names. Given the most comprehensive interpretation of the name some 6 United Kingdom towns and cities are related-Read, Reading, Reading Street, Reed, Reedham and Reedness. Canada has a Readlyn, Australia a Reedy Springs and 2 Reids, Jamaica a Reading, while the United States has 18 name-related towns and cities. Rivers, lakes, and other topographic features with variations on the name are relatively common and include Fiji’s dangerous Reed Reef.

With about 27,000 namesakes Reid is Scotland’s 11th most popular surname. Thus about one out of every 190 Scots is named Reid. (The name is not common enough throughout England and Wales to be counted separately.) Around the world Reids are most common in Canberra (one in 354 families), Vancouver (one in 563) and Toronto (one in 565). The United States has an estimated total of just under 109,000 Reids-making this their 236th most popular surname.