NameCensus.

UK surname

Reedy

Referring to someone who lived near a reed bed or worked with reeds, such as a thatcher.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Reedy surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reedy is 164 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2009

164 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reedy had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Reedy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reedy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reedy 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 130 #19,649
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 160 #20,259
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 152 #21,723
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 164 #21,628
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Reedys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Liverpool, Keighley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle, Shropshire, Westminster and Tameside. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 013 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Pendle 003 Pendle
3 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
4 Westminster 014 Westminster
5 Tameside 017 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reedy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reedy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reedy, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Reedy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Reedy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Reedy is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reedy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Reedy falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reedy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Reedy

The surname Reedy is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'reed', referring to the tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wetlands and marshes. It likely emerged as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near an area abundant in reeds or who worked with reeds in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Reedy can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. It was often spelled in a variety of ways, such as Reddy, Reddie, and Reddye, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One notable early reference to the surname Reedy is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Redye. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 record a Robert le Redie, indicating the use of the surname in its more modern spelling.

In the 16th century, the surname Reedy appears in various parish records and tax rolls across England. For example, the Parish Registers of Weston-under-Lizard in Staffordshire mention a Thomas Reedy who was born in 1542. Similarly, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1524 list a William Reedy as a taxpayer.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Reedy have achieved notable prominence. One such figure was John Reedy (1644-1718), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Bristol. Another was Thomas Reedy (1768-1835), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Order of the Bath for his valor.

In the literary world, the surname Reedy is associated with the American poet and novelist Alice Reedy (1892-1976), known for her works exploring the experiences of working-class women in the early 20th century. Additionally, George Reedy (1913-1999) was a prominent American journalist and political adviser who served as a speechwriter for President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The surname Reedy has also been carried by notable figures in the field of sports. For instance, William Reedy (1876-1955) was a British footballer who played for several clubs, including Manchester United and Preston North End, in the early years of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reedy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reedy 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. Lancashire leads with 54 Reedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 54 3.56x
Middlesex 13 1.02x
Yorkshire 13 1.03x
Northumberland 9 4.73x
Surrey 9 1.45x
Channel Islands 8 21.13x
Durham 6 1.58x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.90x
Northamptonshire 4 3.33x
Leicestershire 3 2.12x
Suffolk 3 1.93x
Essex 1 0.40x
Norfolk 1 0.51x
Renfrewshire 1 1.01x
Sussex 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Byker in Northumberland leads with 8 Reedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.11x.

Place Total Index
Byker 8 85.11x
Hackney London 8 11.17x
St Peter Port 8 114.29x
Blackburn 7 17.35x
Liverpool 7 7.60x
Over Darwen 7 57.80x
Rotherhithe 7 44.33x
Keighley 6 44.44x
Salford 6 13.45x
Windle 6 70.34x
Great Harwood 5 182.48x
Snenton 5 73.86x
Walton Le Dale 5 122.85x
Witton 4 209.42x
Gateshead 3 10.54x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 3 612.24x
Leicester St Mary 3 26.20x
Northampton St Sepulchre 3 49.10x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 3 526.32x
St George Hanover 3 17.99x
Batley 2 16.63x
Camberwell 2 2.45x
Haslingden 2 31.85x
Heston 2 47.17x
Horton In Bradford 2 10.12x
Saddleworth 2 20.47x
Baconsthorpe 1 769.23x
Barnard Castle 1 53.19x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 24.81x
Bishopwearmouth 1 3.06x
Boldon 1 73.53x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 51.81x
Hulme 1 3.16x
Leyton 1 23.04x
Manchester 1 1.47x
Middleton Cheney 1 192.31x
Paisley High Church 1 12.69x
Preston 1 26.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Margaret 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Sarah 5
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Ellen 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Betsy 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Lily 1
Maria 1
Matild 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 6
William 6
Michael 4
Patrick 3
David 2
Edward 2
George 2
Henry 2
James 2
Adam 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Dominick 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Matthias 1
Morgan 1
Nicholas 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Reedy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reedy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Reedy surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reedy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Reedy a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Reedy surname mean?

Referring to someone who lived near a reed bed or worked with reeds, such as a thatcher.

What does the Reedy map show?

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