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

Reeds, 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 Reeds surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reeds in America

Reeds is the 42163rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reeds surname appeared 515 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Reeds.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reeds 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 Reeds

The surname Reeds is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "reod," meaning a reed plant or a marsh. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a reedy area or marshland.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Reeds can be traced back to the 13th century, with various spellings such as Rede, Reed, and Reede appearing in historical records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de la Rede, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Thomas del Rede in Oxfordshire, indicating the surname's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

The Reeds surname has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Reed in Hertfordshire and Reedness in Yorkshire. These locations likely derived their names from the prevalence of reed plants in the area, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its topographic origins.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Reeds are:

1. Isaac Reed (1742-1807), an English editor and biographer known for his works on Shakespeare and other literary figures.
2. Andrew Reed (1787-1862), an English Congregational minister and philanthropist who founded several charitable organizations.
3. Thomas German Reed (1817-1888), an English dramatist and impresario who helped popularize the theatre in London's West End.
4. John Rees (1837-1896), a Welsh coal magnate and industrialist, also known as John Reeds, who played a significant role in the development of the coal industry in South Wales.
5. Sir Thomas Lawrence Reed (1844-1935), an Australian politician and judge who served as the Premier of Western Australia from 1900 to 1901.

The Reeds surname has been present in various parts of England throughout history, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "reod," reflecting the topographic nature of the name and its connection to marshlands and reed-covered areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reeds

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

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

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

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