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

Reidhead, 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 Reidhead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reidhead in America

Reidhead is the 32302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reidhead surname appeared 713 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 Reidhead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reidhead 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 Reidhead

The surname Reidhead originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "reod" meaning "reed" and "heafod" meaning "head" or "top." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a reed-covered area or a headland near reeds.

Reidhead is a locational surname, which means it was originally derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Borders region, specifically in areas such as Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which listed people who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Reidheid, who was mentioned in the records of the Burgh of Prestwick in 1492. Another early record dates back to 1531, when Thomas Reidheid was listed as a tenant in the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.

In the 16th century, the Reidhead family was well-established in the Scottish Borders region, with several members holding positions of prominence. One notable figure was Robert Reidhead (1550-1612), who served as the Provost of Jedburgh, a royal burgh in Roxburghshire.

During the 17th century, the Reidhead name spread across Scotland and into parts of England. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was William Reidhead (1622-1695), a Scottish minister who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1663 to 1668.

In the 18th century, the Reidhead family continued to thrive, with several members making significant contributions in various fields. One notable figure was Alexander Reidhead (1745-1823), a Scottish poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

As the Reidhead name spread across the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, variations in spelling emerged, including Reidhed, Reidheide, and Reidheard. Despite these variations, the name's distinctive Scottish origins and connection to the reed-covered landscapes of the Borders region remained a defining characteristic.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reidhead

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

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

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

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