Read Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Read Name Meaning: Derived form the Anglo-Saxon word for the colour red. Also similar to the Anglo-Saxon word 'ried' meaning 'woodland clearing'.

An Anglo-Saxon nickname which may relate to someone having red hair, it may have also originated from a settlement of an tribe known as the 'Readingas' (named after their chief) who lived in the town known as Reading or any other placenames similar to Read.

Discover how your Read ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Read Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Read family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 3,404
Agricultural Labourer 367
General Labourer 324
Dress Maker 210
Living On Own Means 183
Domestic Servant 155
Labourer 153
Farmer 119
Laundress 117
Living On Her Own Means 117
General Servant Domestic 101
Coal Miner 100
Cotton Weaver 97
Carpenter 96
Farm Labourer 91
General Servant 90
House Keeper 80
Clerk 77
Gardener 74
Blacksmith 70
Butcher 69
Cook Domestic Servant 61
Shoe Maker 55
Dressmaker 51
Tailor 50

Read Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Reed 75% 171,108
2 Read 100% 149,995
3 Reid 75% 45,698
4 Ord 25% 11,990
5 Reade 80% 6,536
6 Rood 50% 3,489
7 Road 75% 2,872
8 Aird 25% 2,306
9 Rhead 80% 2,255
10 Ride 25% 2,240
11 Red 75% 1,852
12 Ried 50% 1,303
13 Raid 50% 1,290
14 Redd 75% 1,250
15 Rud 50% 928
16 Reede 60% 874
17 Rod 50% 681
18 Roud 50% 625
19 Rade 50% 523
20 Orde 0% 455
21 Rode 25% 370
22 Rude 25% 288
23 Raud 50% 255
24 Rid 50% 254
25 Roughead 50% 243
26 Ard 25% 222
27 Rad 75% 168
28 Rodie 20% 123
29 Ruda 25% 120

Did you know?

The surname Read is the 2nd most popular variant of Reed.

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