NameCensus.

UK surname

Reidy

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Ríoghbhardáin," meaning "descendant of Ríoghbhardán," a personal name composed of elements meaning "royal bard."

In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Reidy surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 919, ranked #6,208, up from #18,412 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Glossop and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Camden and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reidy is 965 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 713.3%.

1881 census count

113

Ranked #18,412

Modern count

919

2016, ranked #6,208

Peak year

2010

965 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reidy had 113 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,412 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016, ranked #6,208.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Reidy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reidy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reidy 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 113 #18,412
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 174 #16,520
1911 historical 201 #14,905
1997 modern 866 #6,148
1998 modern 898 #6,170
1999 modern 919 #6,100
2000 modern 916 #6,097
2001 modern 890 #6,129
2002 modern 905 #6,170
2003 modern 889 #6,146
2004 modern 884 #6,185
2005 modern 876 #6,149
2006 modern 889 #6,102
2007 modern 905 #6,061
2008 modern 922 #6,026
2009 modern 932 #6,077
2010 modern 965 #6,047
2011 modern 937 #6,136
2012 modern 865 #6,435
2013 modern 904 #6,326
2014 modern 925 #6,257
2015 modern 917 #6,239
2016 modern 919 #6,208

Geography

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Where Reidys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Glossop, London parishes, Gateshead and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Camden, Solihull, Brent and Doncaster. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
2 Camden 019 Camden
3 Solihull 023 Solihull
4 Brent 031 Brent
5 Doncaster 004 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reidy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reidy

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Reidy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Reidy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Reidy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reidy 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

Reidy 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 Reidy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reidy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reidy 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 21 Reidys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 21 1.61x
Durham 18 5.49x
Lanarkshire 12 3.37x
Middlesex 11 1.00x
Derbyshire 9 5.22x
Kent 9 2.39x
Cheshire 8 3.29x
Kinross-shire 8 286.74x
Worcestershire 7 4.86x
Hampshire 3 1.33x
Surrey 3 0.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 1.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elvet in Durham leads with 10 Reidys recorded in 1881 and an index of 421.94x.

Place Total Index
Elvet 10 421.94x
Glossop Dale 9 111.39x
Wigan 9 49.23x
Fossoway 8 1666.67x
Willington 8 423.28x
Blantyre 7 188.68x
Dudley 7 40.00x
Taxal 7 5833.33x
Oldham 6 14.21x
Bethnal Green London 5 10.44x
Glasgow 5 7.90x
Greenwich 5 28.49x
Gillingham 4 51.61x
St George Bloomsbury 4 63.29x
Heaton Norris 3 40.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 13.53x
Portsea 2 4.52x
Chelsea London 1 3.01x
Great Crosby 1 28.01x
Hayes 1 89.29x
Holdenhurst 1 16.86x
Liverpool 1 1.26x
Manchester 1 1.70x
Middle Greenock 1 42.92x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 35.71x
Skipton 1 29.07x
Walkington 1 270.27x
West Bromwich 1 4.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Margaret 5
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Elizh. 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Eliza 1
Honora 1
Honoria 1
Johana 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

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 Reidy households.

FAQ

Reidy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reidy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Reidy surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reidy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016. That gives Reidy a modern rank of #6,208.

What does the Reidy surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó Ríoghbhardáin," meaning "descendant of Ríoghbhardán," a personal name composed of elements meaning "royal bard."

What does the Reidy map show?

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