Reid Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Surname Name Origin, Meaning, and Etymology
This Saxon surname originates in the nickname “the red”, which was a sobriquet given to one who has a ruddy face or a red complexion or red hair. It derives from the Middle English word reed or rede (red). The surname Reid is the Scottish or North English spelling version. Another author claims it comes from the word rede, meaning advice, help, and counsel, or from the fenny plant which has reeds. Yet another author claims it a locational name deriving from a place in Suffolk.  Yet another source claims it’s a topographic name given to someone who lived in a clear, from the Old English word meaning “woodland clearing”.  One source also believes it derives from the word roegheaford, meaning someone who lived in land populated by deer. Others even claim it relates to the Red Sea. As of 2014, it was the 90^th most popular surname in the United Kingdom. Some family members originate from the County of Northumerland, where the valley of Redesdale was intersected by the Rive Rede.

Spelling Variations
Other spellings include Read, Reed, Rede, Reeds, Redd, Reade, and several others. The foreign equivalents include Ried (German) and Riede (Dutch).

Early Bearers of the Surname
A Gilbert le Rede of Coul, Scotland was recorded in 1296 AD. The Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire list William Red in 1776 AD. Ralph Rede is listed in the Curia Regis rolls of Hertfordshire in 1203 AD. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD, a census of Wales and England, known in Latin as Rotuli Hundredorum, documents Godwin le Rede in county Norfolk and Roger le Rede in county Hereford. The Testa de Neville, sive Liber Feodurum, records Robert le Rede in county Surrey. The Fines Roll records Martin le Rede, William Red in county Somerset in Kirby’s Quest, and Robert le Rede in county Somerset. Early marriages involving this surname include Denys Reade to George Warde to St. Micahel in Cornhill in 1568 and Edward Reed to Elizabeth Mellon at St. George’s Hanover Square in 1788. A one Richard Read was recorded in county Bedford in 1592 in the Register of University Oxford.

History, Genealogy, and Ancestry
The famous genealogist Bernard Burke mentions two lines of this family in his book “Peerage and Baronetage”: Reid of Ellon and Reid of Springburn. As to the first line, the discussion starts with Sir Edward James Reid, the 2^nd Baronet, of Ellon in county Aberdeen who was born in 1901, succeeded in 1923, and married Tatiana Fenoult in 1930, having two children with her: Alexander James (1932) and Susan Isobel (1930). Burke traces the lineage back to John Reid (1720-1775) of Fortrie in Aberdeen, who married Elizabeth Mitchell of Laiothers. His son was Peter Reid of Muirton. He was born in 1768 and married Ann Lumsden of Belhelvie and with her had a daughter and a son. The son’s name was James, born in 1792, who in 1813 married Jessie Gray of Fintray, and before dying in 1862, left six sons and four daughters. The second son was James Reid, of Ellon, born in 1818 who married Beatrice Peter, and before dying in 1883, had the following issue with her: Sir James, the 1^st Baronet, and John Peter, of Yokohama Japan. Sir James Reid, the 1^st Baronet, born in October of 1849, was a physician in Ordinary to Queen Victoria in 1889 and was created a Baronet in August of 1897. He married Susan Baring, a maid of the queen, and with her had four children: Edward James (previously discussed) John Peter Lorne, Margaret Cecilia (1937), and Victoria Susan Beatrice.

As to the second Branch, Reid of Springburn, Burke traces the lineage back to James Reid of Sanquhar in county Dumfries who was born in 1757 and married Susanna Brown in 1793. They had several children, one named William Reid, of Kilmaurs who was born in 1800, and married Mary, the third daughter of Hugh Miller, in 182. William’s eldest son was named James Reid, who was from Auchterarder in count Perth, born in 1823. He was the President of the Royal Institute of Fine Arms in Glasgow, and he married Margaret Ann Scott and had children with her: William Scott (1852), James (1858), Sir Hugh (created a Baronet), Sir John (1861), Andrew Thompson (1863, who became a Lieutenant Colonel), Walter Montogomerie Neilson (1865), William (1867), Edward Thomas Scott (1871), and Elizabeth (1856). The third son was Sir Hugh Reid, the 1^st Baronet, who married Marion Maclune in 1888 and has issue with her: Captain James, Douglas Neilson (the 2^nd baronet), and George Hugh Neilson. Sir Hugh, who died in 1935, was succeeded by his son Sir Douglas Neilson Reid, of Springburn in county Glasgow who was a member of the Royal Company of Arches, and who served in both World Wars. He married Margaret Brighton Young in 1926 and had two issue with her: Hugh (1933) and Joan Murray (1929).

The branch known as Reed of Crag is discussed in Bernard Burke’s “The Landed Gentry”. It begins with mentioning Charles John Reed, Esq. of Crag and Newbiggen House in Northumberland, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Northumberland Artiller Militia, who was born in 1820 and in 1845 married Margaret, the eldest daughter of George Heppel Ramsay of Derwent Villa and had the following children with her: Charles Archibald Percival (1851, became Lietenant of the Northumberland Hussars), Barras Ramsay (1858), Alfred Stephen (1860), Mary Isabella, Constance Diana (1863), Caroline Ages, Florence (1855),  Alice Helena, Mabel, and Victoria Margaret. Burke states “The Reeds of Crag are descended from the elder branch of the Reeds of Troughend, who state they hold grants from the Crown prior to the Conquest.” Reeds appear in Redesdale are found in the Muster Roll for Noethumberland during the reign of the King Henry VIII. Thomas Reed of Crag Aydon and White House succeed Ralph Reed.  With his wife Mary Cooke had one son: Thomas Reed. Thomas, who took part in the Rebellion of 1715, married Elizabeth Atkinson and had the following issue with her: John, Joseph, Margaret, and Dorothy. The eldest son was John Reed, of Crag and Acklington Park, who married Diana Watson in 1779 and had several children with her: Thomas (1771), William (1774, who was a Lieutenant of the 23^rd Fusiliers),  John (1776), Edward (1778), Ralph Thomas (1779), Stephen, Joseph (1786), Isabella (1774), Elizabeth, and Diana. He died in 1829 and he estates went to his youngest son, Stephen Reed. Stephen married Isabella Barras in 1819 and had three children with her: Charles John (his heir), George Barras (1821), and Anna Mary Isabella (1850). He passed away in 1865 and was succeed by Charles Down, mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph.

Burke’s “The Landed Gentry” also discusses a branch known as Reade of Wood Parks. It begins with a discussion of Philip Reade of Woods Park in counties Galway and Clare, who was born in 1793 and married Grace Rutherford in 1829 leaving the following issue: Philip William Villiers (born 1839), Sarah Rosanna, and Jane Peacock Maria. The lineage traces back to Philip Reade of Wood Town in county Westmeath (the eldest son of Reverend Philip Read) who married Mary Palmer in 1695 AD. Their eldest son and heir was Reverend Philip Reade (1699), who married Margaret Fethersonhaugh in 1748 and had issue with her: John, Barrister-at Law, who married Martha Frances in 1787.

In his book, Homes of Family Names, H.B. Guppy writes “I will first treat of the different forms of this name. Of these, Read and Reed are by far the most frequent, the first having somewhat the advantage Read does not occur north of a line drawn from the Humber to the Mersey. Though it is irregularly scattered about the rest of England, its principal homes are in the east in the adjoining counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge, and in the south in Wilts and Dorset Reed compensates for the absence or rarity of Read in different counties in a remarkable manner. Thus, its principal home is in Cornwall and Devon, where Read is scantily represented. In the same way it takes the place of Read in the north of England, being especially well represented in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. It is rare or absent in East Anglia, where Read has one of its most important homes, and for a similar reason it is uncommon or absent in Wilts and Dorset. In counties where it is not very numerous, it is often associated with its rival Reid is associated with Reed in the north of England in the counties of Durham and Northumberland, but is much less numerous. It finds its principal home across the border, and is very common over a large part of Scotland, but not north of Aberdeen. It is remarkable that, whilst in the “Northumberland Court Directory for 1879” there are more Reids than Reeds, in the list of farmers there given the Reeds are twice as frequent as the Reids. Perhaps the difference in the spelling may sometimes signify a rise in the social scale. More probably, however, it may be explained by the supposition that most of the Scottish Reids that cross the English border would belong to the gentry and not to the more stay-at-home Scottish yeomen “We thus see that Read is most characteristic of the East Anglian group of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, and also of Wilts and Dorset. Reed has its principal homes in Cornwall and Devon, and in the counties of Northumberland and Durham; whilst Reid is a Scottish* immigrant in the two last named northern counties.”

Early American and New World Settlers
A one James Read left the port of London for Virginia in February of 1634 aboard the Hopewell.  William Read came to Island of Providence (modern day Colombia) in 1635 aboard the Expectaction. Steeven Read came to Virginia aboard the America in June of 1635.Several Reads (William, Mabell, Ralph, Justice, and George) came to New England in July of 1635. A one Anthony Read was recorded as living in Virginia (at Warwick Squake) in February 1623. Others include James Read (Virginia 1607), Gabriell Read (1635), Elizabeth Read (Maryland 1674), Christian James Read (Georgia 1738), and Anna Lydia and Hans Jacon (Pennsylvania 1733).

In the United States, Reed was adopted by some Pennsylvania Dutch/German) families in the 1700s, notably that of John Reed (Johannes Reith), a former Hessian soldier from Raboldshausen, Germany, who fought in the American Revolution.

Marmaduke Read came to St. Christopher aboard the Mathew in 1635. Elizabeth Reed of Exon “a Spinster ages 19 Years or thereabout”, was recorded as being bound for St. Christopher in 1634, who swore allegiance to Major William Gourney of Dartmouth. Stephen Reede, aged 17 years, came in 1618 aboard the George as a servant. A one Lawrance Reed, with his wife, was recorded in the Parish register of St. Michael’s of Barbados in 1680.

Samuel Reid was born in May f 1862 in North Caroline. He married Sarah Roberts Hinkle in 1884 and had numerous issue with her: Fred, Edgar, Wales Lee, Claud Freeman, Isa, S. Lawrence, Clinton, Eddie, and Clarence Leroy. His son Fred was born in 1885 in South Carolina and died in 1900.

Mottoes
The Reid/Reed family has several mottoes: 1) Firm, 2) pro virtute, meaning “for virtue”, 3) nihil amanti durum, meaning “nothing difficulty to one who loves”, 4) fortitude et labore, meaning “by fortitude and exertion”, 5) in Deo ominia, meaning “In God are all things”, 6) in sublime, meaning “upwards”, 7) memor et fidelis, meaning “mindful and faithful”, and 8) semper eadem, meaning “Always the same”.

Grantees
Grantees of arms include: 1) Reid to Baillie , of Jamaica, [1792] Caldecot, M.D., Caldecot formerly wife of, [1811], 2) Ewell, of Graystone Park, co. Dumfries, Scotland, [1823] 3) to Fenwick, of co. Lauc, [1851], 4) Reid-Coddon, Rev. J. E., M.A., of Ashow Rectory, co. Warw., 1894, 5) Rede, late Cooper, Robert, of co. Norf., and Ashman’s, co. Suff., [1822], 6) William (s. of Sylvester, of York), 18, 7) of Trevales in acounty Cornwall [1787), 8) Aiskell, wife of, of Cromer Hall, co. Norf. Arms to wife and descendants, [1811], 9) wife of Cresswell Baker. Arms for Reed quarterly with Baker, [1840], 10) to Verelst, Charles, of Aston, co. York, and Green Hayes, Claughton, co. Chester, [1851?], 11) Sir E. J., J.P., of London ; Hextable, co. Kent ; and Wales, 1881,and 12) William, of 77, Onslow Gardens, London ; Brighton ; and The Warren, Lower Beeding, co. Sussex, 1896.

Notables
Famous people bearing this surname include: 1) Thomas Reid (1710-1796) who was a Scottish philosopher and a contemporary of David Hume, 2) Forrest Reid (1875-1947) and Irish author, 3) Robert Reed (1350-1415) who was a bishop from England and Ireland, 4) and Thomas Buck Reed (1787-1829) who was a United States Senator from the state of Mississippi.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes