Reed is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word 'reed', which refers to the marsh plant used for making pens and musical instruments. The name was originally given as an occupational name to someone who worked with reeds or lived near a reed-bed.
The first recorded use of the surname Reed appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed in Buckinghamshire. It has since become quite common throughout England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
In some cases, Reed may also be used as a given name. In this instance, it is often associated with the plant itself, symbolizing adaptability and strength in the face of adversity, as reeds sway but do not break in strong winds. However, there is no specific meaning or origin attributed to Reed when used as a given name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Reed. These include Sir Arthur Reed, a British admiral who played a significant role in World War I; and Jack Reed, an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.
In popular culture, the surname Reed is perhaps best known as the last name of the Marvel Comics superhero Mr. Fantastic, also known as Reed Richards, leader of the Fantastic Four. However, there is no indication that this character was named after the plant or its associated qualities.
Overall, while Reed may have some interesting associations and historical significance when used as a surname, it does not appear to have any specific meaning or origin when used as a given name. Instead, people with the name Reed are likely to be known simply for their own unique qualities and accomplishments.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Reed in the United States from 1881 to 2023. Over this period, there have been a total of 34,535 births.
From 1881 to around 1950, the number of births with the name Reed fluctuated between single and double digits, reaching its first peak in 1956 with 282 births. However, it's important to note that during this time, the overall population of the United States was much smaller than it is today.
Beginning in the late 1950s, the popularity of the name Reed started to increase significantly. Between 1960 and 2023, there were more than 34,000 births with this name, with the number of annual births typically ranging from around 100 to over 1,000.
The most popular years for the name Reed in terms of births were between 2007 and 2014. During this period, there were more than 600 births each year, with a peak of 1,096 births in 2014. Since then, the number of annual births with the name Reed has decreased slightly but remains consistently high, with 775 births recorded in 2022 and 724 births in 2023.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that while the name Reed was not particularly common during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, it has since become quite popular, with thousands of babies being named Reed each year in recent decades.