Reid Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Reid Name Origin

Get Free Updates about Family Crests, New Information, Stories, Special Offers and more with our Occasional Newsletter Updates

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name

Origin of the Name Reid

The ancient history of the name Reid was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Reid is a nickname meaning 'red haired one' from a person with reddish hair. Variants include Read, Reade, Reed, Red and Readman. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland , Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Godwin le Rede, County Norfolk, and a Roger le Rede, County Herefordshire, who were recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England , in the year 1273. A George Warde and Denys Reade were married in Saint Michaels, Cornhill, in the year 1568. A Martin Rede was recorded in the 'Fines Rolls', in the reign of Edward III. A Gilbert le Rede of Coul, Scotland , was committed to prison and died there in the year 1296. In Ireland the name is found mostly in Ulster , having been introduced there from Scotland with the Plantation. Reid is also a synonym of the name Mulderrig and sometimes a variant of Mulready, taken from the Gaelic O'Maoilbhrighde sept of Roscommon.