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

Redd, 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 Redd surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Redd in America

Redd is the 2749th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Redd surname appeared 13,119 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Redd.

We can also compare 2010 data for Redd 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 Redd

The surname Redd is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "read," which means "red" or "ruddy," referring to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Redd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1195, where a certain William Redd is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in England.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as Rede, Reade, and Reed, indicating the variations in spelling that were common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1275 mention a John le Rede from Oxfordshire, and the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 list a Thomas Rede.

The Domesday Book, a remarkable survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Redd. However, it does mention several individuals with the given name "Redwald," which may have served as a precursor to the later surname.

One notable figure from history who bore the surname Redd was Sir Robert Redd (c. 1510-1587), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was Sir Bartholomew Redd (c. 1560-1628), an English merchant and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the early colonization efforts of Virginia. He was part of the Virginia Company and helped finance the establishment of the Jamestown Colony.

In the literary world, William Redd (1676-1727) was an English poet and playwright known for his satirical works and collaborations with other notable writers of the time, such as Jonathan Swift.

During the American Revolutionary War, George Redd (1738-1813) served as a colonel in the Continental Army and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of Monmouth.

Lastly, Mary Redd (1846-1922) was an American educator and activist who dedicated her life to promoting education for African American children in the post-Civil War era, establishing numerous schools and educational institutions in the South.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and prominence of the Redd surname across different fields and eras, from law and politics to literature, military service, and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Redd

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

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 Redd 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 Redd 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 Redd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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