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

Reidy, 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 Reidy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reidy in America

Reidy is the 7896th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reidy surname appeared 4,193 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 Reidy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reidy 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 Reidy

The surname Reidy originates from Ireland, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is an anglicized variant of the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Riada," which means "descendant of Riada." The name is derived from the personal name Riada, which is believed to have its origins in the Old Irish word "riad," meaning "gray" or "brindled."

Reidy is primarily associated with County Clare, a region located in the west of Ireland. The name has a strong historical presence in this area, with records indicating that the Ó Riada clan held significant influence and power in the region during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle compiled by Irish monks in the 12th century. The annals mention several individuals bearing the name Ó Riada, including Domhnall Ó Riada, who is recorded as having died in the year 1099.

In the 16th century, the Reidy family played a prominent role in the Gaelic resistance against the English conquest of Ireland. Notably, Conor Ó Riada, a chieftain from County Clare, is documented as having participated in the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, a significant conflict between the Irish and English forces.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Reidy. One such figure was Seán Ó Riada (1919-1971), an influential Irish composer and musician who played a pivotal role in the revival of traditional Irish music in the 20th century.

Another notable Reidy was Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin (c. 1748-1784), a renowned Irish poet and scribe from County Cork. His works, which were written in the Irish language, provide valuable insights into the cultural and linguistic traditions of 18th-century Ireland.

In the realm of literature, Ó Riada Muiris (1864-1944), a renowned Irish language writer and scholar, made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Irish language through his writings and advocacy.

The name Reidy has also appeared in various forms throughout history, including Ó Riada, O'Reidy, and O'Riedy, reflecting the evolution and adaptation of the name over time.

It is worth noting that while the surname Reidy is predominantly associated with Ireland, it has also gained a presence in other parts of the world due to Irish emigration and diaspora. However, the historical roots and significance of the name remain deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of County Clare and the broader Irish tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reidy

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

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

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

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