UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near reeds.
In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Ried surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #14,042 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Watton and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ried is 451 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 59.2%.
1881 census count
174
Ranked #14,042
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1851
451 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ried surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ried surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 451 | #5,469 |
| 1861 | historical | 337 | #7,564 |
| 1881 | historical | 174 | #14,042 |
| 1891 | historical | 255 | #12,552 |
| 1901 | historical | 175 | #16,469 |
| 1911 | historical | 117 | #20,757 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 54 | #33,248 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 63 | #33,982 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Watton, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Dalserf. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Watton | Norfolk |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Dalserf | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ried surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ried, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ried surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ried household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ried is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ried is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ried, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RIED is believed to have originated from the Low German language, specifically in the regions of northern Germany and the Netherlands. It is derived from the word "ried," which means "reed" or "marsh." This suggests that the name was initially associated with people who lived near or worked in areas with reeds or marshlands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RIED can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 9th century. It mentions individuals with the surname RIED, indicating their presence in the region of Westphalia, Germany.
In the 11th century, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, includes references to place names containing the element "ried," such as Riedham and Riedfeld. This suggests that the name was also present in England during this period, likely brought by Saxon settlers from the continent.
One notable early bearer of the name RIED was Johann Ried, a German theologian and author who lived from 1492 to 1561. He was a prominent figure during the Protestant Reformation and wrote several influential works on theology and church reform.
In the 16th century, the name RIED appeared in various records across Europe, including the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Riet" or "Ried." Herman Ried, a Dutch painter and engraver, was active in this period, born around 1540.
The 17th century saw the rise of several individuals with the surname RIED. Johann Michael Ried, a German architect and sculptor, was born in 1630 and is known for his work on various churches and buildings in Bavaria.
In the 18th century, Johann Baptist Ried, an Austrian composer and organist, made significant contributions to the classical music world. He was born in 1736 and composed numerous works for the church and secular settings.
The 19th century saw the name RIED spread further across Europe and beyond. Carl Ried, a German-American botanist and horticulturist, was born in 1857 and made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the United States.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ried surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 31 Rieds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 31 | 1.81x |
| Lancashire | 23 | 1.13x |
| Durham | 15 | 2.94x |
| Midlothian | 15 | 6.52x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 1.80x |
| Lincolnshire | 10 | 3.64x |
| Inverness-shire | 9 | 17.56x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.47x |
| Angus | 7 | 4.40x |
| Essex | 7 | 2.07x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.02x |
| Perthshire | 6 | 7.79x |
| Channel Islands | 4 | 7.86x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 1.89x |
| Banffshire | 3 | 8.42x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 2.42x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.36x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.53x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.56x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 0.86x |
| Selkirkshire | 2 | 12.88x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.68x |
| Fife | 1 | 0.98x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.33x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.30x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 2.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Calder in Midlothian leads with 15 Rieds recorded in 1881 and an index of 331.13x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ried surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Mary | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Isabella | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Barbara | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Elise | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Elvina | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lalie | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margrett | 1 |
| Mellie | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ried surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Ried households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Bag Hosier | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Baker And Grocer | 1 |
| Boot Laster | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Brickseller | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Chelsea Pensioner | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer 75 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Serv | 1 |
| G Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Gunmaker | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Labourer General | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Leiut 35th Foot | 1 |
| Machinist (Seam) | 1 |
| Marriner (Seaman) | 1 |
| Marriner Wife (Seaman) | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Night Watchman | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Oil Sheet Maker | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Poulterer | 1 |
| Railway Coalman | 1 |
| Serv Cook | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Joiner (Carpenter) | 1 |
| Ship Keeper (DK) | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shipyard Labourer (Builder) | 1 |
| Spinner | 1 |
| Striker (Ship) | 1 |
| Surgeon & Physician | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
| Under Foreman Fitter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Ried surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Ried a modern rank of #33,633.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near reeds.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ried bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.