Read (surname)

Read (surname)

Read is a surname of English origins, its most likely derivation is from the Anglo-Saxon (Old English) term for the colour red. The English town of Reading on the River Thames derives its name from a very early English tribal or community group the Readingas. The Readingas appear to have been named after a chieftain called Reada, "The Red One," with the addition of the element -inga meaning "the people of." There is a settlement in Lancashire called Read, the name deriving from an Old English term meaning roe [deer] -headland, this may also account for some Read surnames.

The earliest recorded use of the name is that of a Leofwine se Reade (Leofwine the Red) dating to 1016. However, this usage would have been as a descriptive by-name as inherited family surnames had not yet become established.

Prominent bearers of the name include:

Politics and government

* Almon Heath Read (1790–1844), US congressman from Pennsylvania
* George Read (Canadian politician)
* George Read (signer) (1733–1798), signer of American Declaration of Independence
* Jacob Read (1752–1816), US senator for South Carolina and member of Continental Congress
* John Erskine Read (1888–1973), Canadian judge elected to the International Court of Justice
* John Kingsley Read (1937–1985), British National Front politician
* John M. Read (1797–1874), American lawyer, Pennsylvania jurist
* Mel Read, British politician
* Nathan Read (1759–1849), US congressman from Massachusetts

Military and naval

* Abner Read (1821–1863), US naval officer
* Albert Cushing Read (1887–1967), US naval admiral and aviator
* Anketell Moutray Read (1884–1915), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
* Charles Read (1840–1890), US and Confederate naval officer

Entertainment

* Anthony Read, English scriptwriter and editor
* Howard Read, British comedian
* James Read (born 1953), American television actor
* John Dawson Read, English singer-songwriter
* Mike Read (born 1951), British disc jockey and TV presenter

Academics and literature

* Allen Walker Read (1906–2002), American etymologist and lexicographer
* Benedict Read (born 1945), English art historian
* Chopper Read (born 1954), Australian criminal and author
* Daniel Read (1757–1836), American composer
* Florence M. Read, college president
* Gardner Read (1913–2005), American composer
* Herbert Read (1893–1968), English poet
* Leonard Read (1898–1983), American think tank founder
* Opie Read (1852–1939), American journalist and humorist
* Piers Paul Read (born 1941), British novelist and non-fiction author
* Ronald Kingsley Read (1887–1975) English developer of Quikscript, an alphabet
* Richard Read (born 1957), American journalist
* Thomas Buchanan Read (1822–1872), American poet

Business and industry

* Ian Read, executive for Pfizer

cience and technology

* Charles Read (mathematician), British

ports

* Charles Read (squash player) (fl. 1920s), English
* Chris Read (born 1978), English cricketer
* Hopper Read (1910–2000), English cricketer
* Ken Read (born 1955), Canadian skier
* Maurice Read (1859–1929), English cricketer
* Phil Read (born 1939), English motorcycle racer
* Walter Read (1855–1907), English cricketer

Other

* Blue Tulip Rose Read, English stalker
* Deborah Read (1708–1774), the wife of Benjamin Franklin
* Gabriel Read, Australian gold prospector
* Mary Read (c. 1690–1721), English pirate

ee also

* Read family of Delaware
* Reade, a surname page

surname|Read


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