The name Reid has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, deriving from the word "rìgh" which means "king" or "sovereign." It is believed to have emerged as a given name during the medieval period, particularly in Scotland and Northern England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reid is found in the Ragman Rolls, a series of historical documents from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. These rolls contain the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, the name Reid gained prominence through the influential Reid family, who were prominent lairds (landowners) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. One notable figure from this family was Robert Reid, born in 1510, who served as the Bishop of Orkney and played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation.

Another famous bearer of the name was Thomas Reid, a renowned Scottish philosopher born in 1710. He is considered one of the founders of the Scottish School of Common Sense and made significant contributions to the field of epistemology (theory of knowledge).

Moving forward in history, Whitelaw Reid, born in 1837, was an American diplomat and journalist who served as the ambassador to France and later became the editor of the New York Tribune newspaper.

In the realm of sports, Richie Reid, born in 1904, was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward for Rangers and the Scottish national team in the 1920s and 1930s, earning recognition as one of Scotland's greatest players.

More recently, Richard Reid, known as the "Shoe Bomber," gained notoriety in 2001 for his failed attempt to detonate explosives concealed in his shoes on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami.

While the name Reid has its roots in Scottish heritage, it has since been adopted and used across various cultures and regions, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its association with royalty and nobility in its early history has contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.