Reed
The origin of the surname Reed
Reed comes from the Old English read, “red,” for red hair or complexion.
What kind of surname is Reed?
As a descriptive surname (or nickname name), the surname Reed arose from a personal characteristic — a physical trait, a quality of temperament, or a distinguishing feature of its first bearer. Communities have always coined nicknames, and in the age before fixed surnames these vivid, affectionate or teasing labels — referring to hair colour, stature, complexion or character — frequently became hereditary. Descriptive surnames give an unusually human glimpse of an ancestor, hinting at how they looked or how they were regarded by the people around them.
How English surnames work
English surnames became hereditary between roughly the 12th and 15th centuries and fall into four great classes: occupational (Smith, Baker, Wright), locational (Hill, Wood, Preston), patronymic (Johnson, Wilson, Richardson) and descriptive nicknames (Brown, Long, Little). Many were shaped by both Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French influence, and a great number spread worldwide through emigration and empire, which is why English surnames are among the most common family names across the English-speaking world.
Variants & spellings
- Reid
- Read
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Reed mean?
The surname Reed means Red-haired. Reed comes from the Old English read, “red,” for red hair or complexion.
Where does the surname Reed come from?
Reed is a surname of English origin.
What kind of surname is Reed?
Reed is a descriptive surname, originally describing a physical or personal characteristic.
How common is the surname Reed in the United States?
Reed is the 65th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 267,443 people.