Where Does the Red Surname Come From?

Red is a familiar spelling of the English name Reed. The name is generally explained as “Red-haired”.

Family crest and blazon

Looking for a Red coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

How the spelling arose

Without the “e” of Reed, Red is a simpler written form of the same name. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. You may also find the name written Redd, Read and Rede.

The 2010 US Census counted 1,697 people named Red, ranking it number 16,824 among American surnames. Red sounds close to Reda, Reid and Ready, so it can help to search both. Want more than a summary? See the Red family name pack.