NameCensus.

UK surname

Reade

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "rede," meaning counsel or advice.

In the 1881 census there were 891 people recorded with the Reade surname, ranking it #4,274 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,432, ranked #4,276, down from #4,274 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Acton (Burland), Baddiley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Vale of White Horse and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reade is 1,551 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.7%.

1881 census count

891

Ranked #4,274

Modern count

1,432

2016, ranked #4,276

Peak year

1998

1,551 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reade had 891 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,274 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,432 in 2016, ranked #4,276.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Reade surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reade surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Reade 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 521 #4,814
1861 historical 426 #6,032
1881 historical 891 #4,274
1891 historical 999 #4,155
1901 historical 1,238 #4,002
1911 historical 1,365 #3,517
1997 modern 1,501 #3,906
1998 modern 1,551 #3,936
1999 modern 1,535 #4,000
2000 modern 1,533 #3,990
2001 modern 1,498 #3,987
2002 modern 1,527 #4,008
2003 modern 1,523 #3,946
2004 modern 1,502 #3,991
2005 modern 1,469 #4,027
2006 modern 1,416 #4,159
2007 modern 1,437 #4,148
2008 modern 1,453 #4,130
2009 modern 1,466 #4,188
2010 modern 1,483 #4,224
2011 modern 1,462 #4,217
2012 modern 1,428 #4,237
2013 modern 1,477 #4,203
2014 modern 1,464 #4,251
2015 modern 1,446 #4,250
2016 modern 1,432 #4,276

Geography

Back to top

Where Reades are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Acton (Burland), Baddiley and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Vale of White Horse, Cheshire East and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Acton (Burland), Baddiley Cheshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
2 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
3 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
4 Cheshire East 050 Cheshire East
5 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Reade

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Reade

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reade, 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 Reade surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Reade 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Reade is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reade is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reade falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reade 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 Reade, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Reade

The surname Reade originated in England and dates back to at least the 13th century. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "rædan," meaning "to advise or counsel." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who served as a counselor or adviser.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a William le Rede is mentioned. The "le" prefix indicates a descriptive nickname, further supporting the occupational origin of the name.

In the 14th century, the Reade family was well-established in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Gloucestershire. The name was also recorded in various spellings, such as Rede, Reed, and Reid, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time.

The Reade name can be found in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists landowners and tenants in various counties across England. Additionally, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, indicating the presence of the family in that region.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Reade surname was Sir Robert Reade (c.1510-1563), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1559 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Reverend William Reade (1636-1689), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Workes of our Moderne Poets," which was published in 1665. He served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Basildon, Essex.

In the 17th century, the Reade family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, where they held the manor of Ipsden. One notable member was Sir Thomas Reade (1606-1664), an English politician and Member of Parliament who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1638.

Moving into the 18th century, Alexander Reade (1734-1795) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament for the city of Milborne Port.

Finally, in the 19th century, Charles Reade (1814-1884) was a renowned English novelist and playwright. Some of his notable works include "The Cloister and the Hearth," "Hard Cash," and "Griffith Gaunt." He was also a prominent advocate for reform in the treatment of the insane.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Reade families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reade 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. Cheshire leads with 179 Reades recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.24x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 179 9.24x
Staffordshire 127 4.29x
Lancashire 125 1.20x
Middlesex 97 1.10x
Surrey 55 1.29x
Berkshire 23 3.49x
Hampshire 22 1.22x
Oxfordshire 22 4.06x
Warwickshire 20 0.90x
Kent 17 0.57x
Shropshire 17 2.24x
Worcestershire 17 1.48x
Buckinghamshire 16 3.01x
Sussex 16 1.08x
Gloucestershire 15 0.87x
Yorkshire 15 0.17x
Westmorland 11 5.70x
Lincolnshire 9 0.64x
Monmouthshire 9 1.42x
Northamptonshire 9 1.09x
Devon 8 0.44x
Isle of Man 8 4.91x
Wiltshire 8 1.03x
Norfolk 7 0.52x
Bedfordshire 6 1.32x
Durham 6 0.23x
Herefordshire 6 1.67x
Hertfordshire 6 0.99x
Dorset 4 0.69x
Suffolk 4 0.37x
Essex 3 0.17x
Somerset 3 0.21x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.38x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Flintshire 1 0.42x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 27 Reades recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.59x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 27 8.59x
Nantwich 18 79.93x
Wolverhampton 18 7.90x
Manchester 16 3.42x
Kensington London 15 3.07x
Weston On Green 15 1376.15x
Leek Lowe 14 35.51x
Whiston 14 172.20x
Birmingham 13 1.76x
Balking 12 2352.94x
Cropthorne 12 566.04x
Bollington In 11 63.77x
Camberwell 11 1.96x
Chester St Oswald 11 31.35x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.62x
Church Coppenhall 10 115.47x
Monks Coppenhall 10 13.67x
Sevenoaks 10 41.17x
Burslem 9 10.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 5.44x
Clapham 9 8.20x
Congleton 9 26.88x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 30.07x
Stoke Newington London 9 13.16x
Wigan 9 6.18x
Chesham 8 40.90x
Dawley 8 28.99x
Faddiley 8 1142.86x
Holdenhurst 8 16.95x
Horninglow 8 57.31x
Lezayre 8 109.44x
Liverpool 8 1.26x
St Marylebone London 8 1.71x
Upper Penn 8 107.82x
West Derby 8 2.62x
Astley 7 87.06x
Chorley In Nantwich 7 1400.00x
Great Crosby 7 24.65x
Mile End Old Town 7 5.05x
Sale 7 29.45x
Standon 7 648.15x
Thames Ditton 7 78.74x
Upper Llanvrechva 7 70.99x
Altrincham 6 17.72x
Baddiley 6 697.67x
Burton Upon Trent 6 8.65x
Croydon 6 2.53x
Hammersmith London 6 2.77x
Heathylee 6 476.19x
Hurdsfield 6 50.34x
Islington London 6 0.71x
Kendal 6 16.99x
Lambeth 6 0.78x
Newholme Cum Dunsley 6 500.00x
Old Buckenham 6 173.41x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 6 26.92x
Stranton 6 6.82x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 33.17x
Birkenhead 5 3.24x
Frampton On Severn 5 172.41x
Margate St John Baptist 5 9.12x
Oundle 5 54.17x
Ridgmont 5 223.21x
Sandbach 5 30.25x
Shrivenham 5 153.37x
South Stoneham 5 12.81x
Steyning 5 99.60x
Westminster St 5 15.45x
Willaston In Nantwich 5 83.61x
Aston 4 0.66x
Chester St Mary On Hill 4 24.07x
Farnham Royal 4 127.39x
Garston 4 13.01x
Hampstead London 4 2.93x
Hereford St Owen 4 33.64x
Hulme 4 1.84x
Middleton In Oldham 4 12.80x
Middlewich 4 100.25x
Sutton 4 12.92x
Wistaston 4 327.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Elizabeth 36
Sarah 28
Emma 24
Ann 19
Ellen 16
Jane 16
Alice 15
Martha 13
Annie 12
Eliza 10
Hannah 10
Edith 9
Emily 9
Anne 6
Harriet 6
Ada 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Louisa 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
E. 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Bridget 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizebeth 2
Esther 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Miriam 2
Sabina 2
Elizabet 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
John 47
George 42
Thomas 34
James 24
Henry 21
Charles 20
Joseph 20
Edward 12
Samuel 11
Arthur 9
Robert 9
Albert 8
David 8
Alfred 7
Richard 7
Frederick 6
Francis 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Edwin 4
Compton 3
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Sidney 3
Walter 3
Autum 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwd. 2
Jas. 2
Percy 2
R. 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Wm. 2
Austin 1
Chas.Edwd. 1
Chas.Walter 1
Chichester 1
Eustance 1
F.A. 1
Fred. 1
Frid 1
Geo.F. 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Julien 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Reade surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reade surname in 1881?

In 1881, 891 people were recorded with the Reade surname. That placed it at #4,274 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reade surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,432 in 2016. That gives Reade a modern rank of #4,276.

What does the Reade surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "rede," meaning counsel or advice.

What does the Reade map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Reade 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.