Find out how popular the last name Reade is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Reade.

Reade, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Reade surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reade in America

Reade is the 18227th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reade surname appeared 1,526 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Reade.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reade to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Reade

The surname Reade originated in England and dates back to at least the 13th century. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "rædan," meaning "to advise or counsel." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who served as a counselor or adviser.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a William le Rede is mentioned. The "le" prefix indicates a descriptive nickname, further supporting the occupational origin of the name.

In the 14th century, the Reade family was well-established in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Gloucestershire. The name was also recorded in various spellings, such as Rede, Reed, and Reid, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time.

The Reade name can be found in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists landowners and tenants in various counties across England. Additionally, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, indicating the presence of the family in that region.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Reade surname was Sir Robert Reade (c.1510-1563), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1559 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Reverend William Reade (1636-1689), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Workes of our Moderne Poets," which was published in 1665. He served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Basildon, Essex.

In the 17th century, the Reade family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, where they held the manor of Ipsden. One notable member was Sir Thomas Reade (1606-1664), an English politician and Member of Parliament who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1638.

Moving into the 18th century, Alexander Reade (1734-1795) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament for the city of Milborne Port.

Finally, in the 19th century, Charles Reade (1814-1884) was a renowned English novelist and playwright. Some of his notable works include "The Cloister and the Hearth," "Hard Cash," and "Griffith Gaunt." He was also a prominent advocate for reform in the treatment of the insane.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reade

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Reade.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Reade was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Reade has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Reade was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Reade, please contact us.

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