NameCensus.

UK surname

Read

An occupational surname referring to a person who acted as an advisor or interpreter.

In the 1881 census there were 19,314 people recorded with the Read surname, ranking it #195 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22,700, ranked #261, down from #195 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, North Norfolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Read is 26,129 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.5%.

1881 census count

19,314

Ranked #195

Modern count

22,700

2016, ranked #261

Peak year

1911

26,129 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Read had 19,314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #195 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 22,700 in 2016, ranked #261.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26,129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Read surname distribution map

The map shows where the Read surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Read surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Read over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 14,612 #154
1861 historical 13,954 #175
1881 historical 19,314 #195
1891 historical 20,732 #187
1901 historical 24,075 #192
1911 historical 26,129 #159
1997 modern 23,734 #233
1998 modern 24,423 #241
1999 modern 24,527 #239
2000 modern 24,280 #244
2001 modern 23,666 #243
2002 modern 24,058 #245
2003 modern 23,322 #246
2004 modern 23,285 #246
2005 modern 22,653 #250
2006 modern 22,540 #252
2007 modern 22,460 #254
2008 modern 22,472 #257
2009 modern 22,941 #258
2010 modern 23,328 #259
2011 modern 23,032 #257
2012 modern 22,606 #257
2013 modern 23,165 #258
2014 modern 23,218 #258
2015 modern 22,889 #260
2016 modern 22,700 #261

Geography

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Where Reads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, North Norfolk, Norwich, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 011 West Dorset
2 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
3 Norwich 006 Norwich
4 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
5 Waveney 008 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Read

These lists show first names that appear often with the Read surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Read

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Read, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Read surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Read household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Read is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Read is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Read falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Read is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Read, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Read

The surname Read originates from England and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "rædan," which means "to read" or "to advise." This name was likely given as an occupational surname to those who were literate and worked as scribes, clerks, or readers in religious institutions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Read surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Radere" and "Redere." These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name from its Old English roots to its modern form.

During the 13th century, the surname began to appear more frequently in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Rede" and "Redde." This period also saw the emergence of place names associated with the surname, such as Reade in Lancashire and Redehall in Suffolk.

Notable historical figures bearing the Read surname include Sir William Read (1555-1636), an English merchant and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1619. Another prominent individual was Sir John Read (c.1588-1658), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir Nathaniel Read (1658-1727), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1692. During this time, the surname also appeared in various forms, such as "Reade" and "Redde."

Moving into the 18th century, the Read surname continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Sir John Read (1720-1794), an English politician and Lieutenant-General in the British Army. Additionally, the American Revolutionary War saw the involvement of Joseph Read (1694-1786), a prominent lawyer and statesman who served as the President of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey.

As the centuries progressed, the Read surname remained widely distributed across England and its colonies, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, including politics, law, and commerce.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Read families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Read surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 3,091 Reads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3,091 1.64x
Lancashire 1,415 0.63x
Surrey 1,240 1.35x
Kent 1,069 1.66x
Hampshire 1,057 2.74x
Suffolk 1,039 4.53x
Norfolk 1,029 3.55x
Yorkshire 796 0.43x
Dorset 709 5.74x
Warwickshire 589 1.24x
Essex 564 1.52x
Wiltshire 556 3.34x
Staffordshire 551 0.87x
Somerset 507 1.67x
Sussex 489 1.54x
Cheshire 375 0.90x
Gloucestershire 357 0.97x
Lincolnshire 357 1.19x
Leicestershire 344 1.65x
Nottinghamshire 314 1.24x
Worcestershire 276 1.12x
Cambridgeshire 255 2.14x
Buckinghamshire 240 2.11x
Bedfordshire 217 2.23x
Hertfordshire 197 1.52x
Berkshire 194 1.37x
Northamptonshire 189 1.07x
Oxfordshire 129 1.11x
Huntingdonshire 120 3.21x
Cornwall 100 0.47x
Durham 98 0.17x
Devon 85 0.22x
Monmouthshire 82 0.60x
Derbyshire 78 0.26x
Cumberland 65 0.40x
Northumberland 59 0.21x
Glamorgan 53 0.16x
Shropshire 50 0.31x
Westmorland 47 1.14x
Herefordshire 38 0.49x
Flintshire 32 0.63x
Roxburghshire 24 0.70x
Royal Navy 24 1.07x
Pembrokeshire 21 0.35x
Aberdeenshire 20 0.11x
Midlothian 16 0.06x
Angus 15 0.09x
Ayrshire 15 0.11x
Denbighshire 14 0.20x
Lanarkshire 13 0.02x
Rutland 13 0.94x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.10x
Isle of Man 7 0.20x
Perthshire 7 0.08x
Selkirkshire 7 0.41x
Banffshire 6 0.15x
Channel Islands 6 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.07x
Fife 5 0.04x
Brecknockshire 3 0.08x
East Lothian 3 0.12x
Radnorshire 3 0.20x
Renfrewshire 3 0.02x
Cardiganshire 2 0.04x
Kincardineshire 2 0.09x
Kinross-shire 2 0.42x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.03x
Argyllshire 1 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.02x
Inverness-shire 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.03x
Shetland 1 0.05x
Stirlingshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 293 Reads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.78x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 293 1.78x
St Pancras London 223 1.47x
Islington London 218 1.19x
St Marylebone London 210 2.09x
Hackney London 199 1.88x
West Ham 198 2.41x
Shoreditch London 197 2.41x
Birmingham 191 1.21x
Bethnal Green London 173 2.11x
Camberwell 160 1.33x
Kensington London 134 1.28x
Great Yarmouth 131 5.46x
Mile End Old Town 124 4.17x
Blackburn 115 1.93x
Aston 113 0.86x
Portsea 110 1.45x
Nottingham St Mary 108 1.64x
Chelsea London 104 1.83x
Bermondsey 101 1.80x
Bromley London 97 2.34x
Southampton St Mary 97 4.00x
Willenhall 97 8.15x
Brighton 93 1.45x
Fulham London 93 3.41x
Paddington London 92 1.33x
Christchurch 87 10.39x
Leicester St Margaret 82 1.61x
Hammersmith London 81 1.75x
Newington 78 1.12x
Gillingham 77 36.25x
Poplar London 75 2.11x
Battersea 73 1.05x
Coventry St Michael 71 4.65x
Liverpool 71 0.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 71 1.87x
Manchester 67 0.67x
St George Hanover 65 2.64x
Tonbridge 64 2.76x
Leeds 62 0.59x
Stoke Newington London 61 4.16x
Salford 60 0.91x
St Luke London 59 1.95x
Willesden 59 3.32x
Luton 57 3.38x
Toxteth Park 57 0.75x
Clerkenwell London 56 1.26x
Woodbridge 55 18.76x
Deptford St Paul 53 1.07x
Greenwich 52 1.73x
Limehouse London 51 2.47x
Coventry Holy Trinity 50 3.53x
Cranborne 50 33.46x
Heigham 50 3.22x
Westbury On Severn East 50 5.99x
Rotherhithe 49 2.11x
West Derby 48 0.73x
Woolwich 48 2.02x
Chorley 47 3.75x
Lewisham 47 1.37x
Winford 46 75.35x
Acton 45 4.08x
Chatham 45 2.55x
Habergham Eaves 45 2.20x
Hulme 45 0.96x
Laxfield 45 78.78x
Quainton 45 80.60x
Sculcoates 45 1.52x
Melcombe Regis 44 8.59x
Beccles 43 11.65x
Gorleston 43 7.38x
Handsworth 42 2.68x
Ipswich St Margaret 42 5.40x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 41 1.18x
Fovant 41 113.57x
Portland 41 6.17x
Sutton 41 41.46x
Birkenhead 40 1.21x
Wicken 40 152.09x
St George In East 39 3.04x
Whittlesey St Mary St 39 9.36x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Read surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 1,185
Elizabeth 746
Sarah 634
Emma 355
Jane 334
Ann 333
Alice 320
Ellen 314
Eliza 310
Annie 271
Emily 271
Hannah 170
Charlotte 168
Louisa 146
Harriet 144
Martha 142
Maria 127
Florence 126
Caroline 125
Edith 122
Margaret 115
Fanny 109
Ada 106
Kate 95
Frances 92
Susan 90
Clara 82
Catherine 76
Lucy 73
Anne 72
Harriett 69
Amelia 63
Rebecca 62
Agnes 58
Amy 58
Rose 55
Lydia 53
Anna 48
Esther 48
Susannah 47
Matilda 45
Isabella 42
Laura 41
Eleanor 40
Jessie 40
Julia 38
Elizth. 36
Minnie 36
Sophia 35
Gertrude 34

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Read surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 1,231
John 921
George 749
James 627
Thomas 588
Charles 505
Henry 407
Robert 259
Alfred 254
Joseph 252
Edward 214
Arthur 213
Frederick 207
Walter 172
Harry 162
Samuel 162
Richard 147
Albert 142
Herbert 94
Ernest 81
Frank 80
Edwin 74
Benjamin 67
David 64
Francis 58
Stephen 42
Fred 37
Wm. 36
Thos. 35
Daniel 32
Fredk. 30
Tom 30
Chas. 28
Fredrick 27
Geo. 27
Isaac 26
Edmund 24
Mark 22
Sidney 22
Harold 19
Leonard 19
Jesse 17
Percy 17
Peter 17
Matthew 15
Willie 15
Alexander 14
Horace 14
Jonathan 13
Sydney 12

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Read households.

FAQ

Read surname: questions and answers

How common was the Read surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19,314 people were recorded with the Read surname. That placed it at #195 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Read surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 22,700 in 2016. That gives Read a modern rank of #261.

What does the Read surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who acted as an advisor or interpreter.

What does the Read map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Read bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.