This last name is most frequently held in The United States, where it is held by 143,041 people, or 1 in 2,534. A total of 5,343 people have the surname Spencer in Jamaica. The prevalency of Reid has changed through the years. FamilySearch. A total of 5,479 people have the surname Burke in Jamaica. Professor Harvey L. Reid. Hello, Keh keh. 9. The 100 Most Common Surnames in Jamaica (With Figures) Click here for other potential spellings of Thomas-Reid. Click here to see other possible spellings of this last name. It is most frequently used in Jamaica, where it is borne by 12 people, or 1 in 239,162. John Rede is in record in the parisn of Morton in 1376 (RHM., I, p. lvi), William Rede held Wester Pitfoddels in wadset from his cousin Alexander de Moravia in 1389 (Stodart, II, p. 367), William Rede, dominus de Ranystoun, was present at the perambulation of the lands of Tarwas and Uldnyin 1417 (RAA., II, p. 50), and Wil Red was tenant of Wester Drumme in 1474 (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 197). 1788. Join Geni to explore your genealogy and family history in the World's Largest Family Tree. Search in our record collections. There are 196,000 immigration records available for the last . Your email address will not be published. popularity and diffusion. Parish of Saint Elizabeth Jamaica Online Genealogy Records Ask the Community Contents 1 Church Records 2 References Church Records [ edit | edit source] Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940. Gordon- According to some genealogists this name is derived from Gordonia, a town in Macedonia. [10]. Red is found as a surname in Aberdeen in 1317 (SCM., V, p. 8), and it is one of the oldest in the parish of Kildrummy. (Saxon.) Kennett Reid in MyHeritage family trees (Buchanan Web Site) Kenneth Uriah Reid in Jamaica, Civil Registration, 1880-1999 view all Immediate Family Rachel Retinella Reid wife Naomi Eugenia Reid wife Kenneth Reid father Mary Ann Reid mother Mary Matilda Tulloch sister James Alexander Reid brother Eliza Albertha Reid sister view all R Genealogy > REID Mr. Alexander Reid, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh. A total of 16,020 people have the last name Taylor in Jamaica. Forbes-Reid Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History He is also noted for his book illustrations. A total of 22,900 people have the surname Robinson in Jamaica. Popularity: Reid Blackburn Reid was born on August 11th, 1952. A total of 19,653 people have the surname Wilson in Jamaica. A total of 20,359 people have the surname Edwards in Jamaica. Record distribution for Reid Family. Redd FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions. 32. *We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs. It can also be rendered as a variant: Red. Origin of Reid in Jamaica - Genealogy.com A total of 13,082 people have the surname Jackson in Jamaica. http://FamilySearch.org : 18 July 2022. A total of 12,726 people have the surname Hall in Jamaica. [5] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Reid is the 527th popular surname. Retrieved from, Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Reid is a Scottish and N. Read More About This Surname Reid Surname Distribution Map + (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Reid last name - Reid family - MyHeritage A total of 9,436 people have the surname Harris in Jamaica. With a total of 41,322 people surnamed Campbell, it is the fourth most common surname in Jamaica. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. A total of 5,067 people have the surname Evans in Jamaica. It is borne by approximately 1 in 662,504,174 people. Using the Search table at the bottom of any page, insert any surname. See Reed. "The spelling red is modern, like the pronunciation. White-Reid occurs in Jamaica more than any other country/territory. ', View the highest/lowest earning families in The United States. A total of 11,061 people have the last name Dixon in Jamaica. A total of 7,561 people have the surname Lee in Jamaica. It is most widely held in Jamaica, where it is held by 10 people, or 1 in 286,995. It is most likely that the name was used asnicknamefor someone with red hair, before becoming their surname. The Reid Clan - Border Reiver Family Heritage & Genealogy - Facebook What about Evans and Dryden? The first of the name there recorded is probably William Rede, son of John Reede. Petticoat . Hi Azazi You're welcome! A total of 7,169 people have the surname Rowe in Jamaica. Did Elizabeth marry her half-brother or is there a mistake somewhere. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . How Common Is The Last Name Forbes-Reid? Two Reid brothers (no first names) came to Jamaica (late 1700, early to mid 1800?). Lists Of Most Common Black Jamaican Last Names - Blogger The amount Reid earn in different countries varies greatly. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . A total of 8,194 people have the surname Spence in Jamaica. I'm searching for the origin of the name REID in Jamaica. Red is found as a surname in Aberdeen in 1317, and it is one of the oldest in the parish of Kildrummy. A total of 11,091 people have the surname Hamilton in Jamaica. Approximately 26 people bear this surname. You're welcome, keh keh. What about Johns? With a total of 27,669 people surnamed Thomas, it is the eighth most common surname in Jamaica. The first of the name there recorded is probably William Rede, son of John Reede. A total of 5,706 people have the surname Kelly in Jamaica. Copy Citation It can also appear in the variant forms:. Retrieved from, Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reid ancestors lived in harsh conditions. Because Reid has so many spelling variations (Reed, Read, Ried) and because two roots are involved (red and reed) this name is notably hard to properly relate to geographic features and place names. See Terms of Use for details. It is also the 31,797th most prevalent first name globally, held by 25,208 people. 1958), American NFL head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs who won Super Bowls LIV and LVII, John Spence Reid (1942-2022), American politician, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1990 to 2008, Harry Mason Reid Jr. (1939-2021), American lawyer and politician, Senate Majority Leader (2007-2015), Senate Minority Leader (2015-2017), Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus (2005-2017), Senate Minority Whip (2003-2005), Natalie Desselle Reid (1967-2020), American actress who performed in several films, including B.A.P.S., Def Jam's How to Be a Player, Set It Off and Cinderella, Ogden Rogers Reid (1925-2019), American politician and diplomat, U.S. Hello, Unknown December 19, 2019I hope that you and others will get some responses to your queries about the name "Spence" in Jamaica. Subgroups. Robinson 13.Grant 14. I'm aware that there's several Manchester place names one being in England. Recorded in several spellings including Reid, generally held to be Scottish, Read, Reade, Reed, Red and Redd, it has at least three possible origins. An ideal gift. The United States has an estimated total of just under 109,000 Reids-making this their 236th most popular surname. Edwards 16.Lewis 17.Wilson 18. There was an Old English word ried-a clearing, giving rise to place names Read and Reed, from which some surnames would be derived. Canadian George Andrew Reids career was remarkably similar. Henry Fielding Reid was an American seismologist who developed the elastic rebound theory explaining earthquake mechanics (1911). 1956), American songwriter, producer, and record company executive, John Reid (1721-1807), Scottish general, founder of the chair of music at the University of Edinburgh, son of Alexander Robertson of Straloch, Perthshire, David Boswell Reid (1805-1863), Scottish inventor and physician, born at Edinburgh, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, known for his book Illustrations of the Theory and Practice of Ventilation (1844), (Another 33 notables are available in all our, Mr. H. Reid (d. 1914), British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the, Mr. James Reid (d. 1914), British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the, Mr. James Reid (d. 1914), British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the. Richard Read, Bedfordshire. Irish in Jamaica. A total of 6,001 people have the surname Roberts in Jamaica. Mr. Charles Reid (d. 1914), English Third Class Passenger from Leicester, Master Samuel Raymond Reid (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the, Miss Florence Reid (1906-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the, Miss Mary Florence Reid (1906-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the. Reid Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History - Forebears A total of 16,888 people have the surname Miller in Jamaica. Here Leofwine se Reade is mentioned in the records for 101620. A total of 13,924 people have the surname White in Jamaica. In Aberdeenshire this surname has become confused with Rait and Reith. A total of 10,398 people have the surname Martin in Jamaica. An old northern pronunciation of red. [1] [2]. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level, Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names, Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence, Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Thomas-Reid, To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Reid Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History With a total of 46,785 people surnamed Smith, it is the third most common surname in Jamaica. http://FamilySearch.org : 12 February 2023. Greetings Harvey Reid, my name is Jacqueline REID-McKinnon, my Gr.Grandfather was William Vassall Reid, he was born in Renfrew,Scotland and was born around the mid 1800's, he married Emma Cecelia McDaniel,they had 6 children and lived in Manchester, Jamaica. Miller-Reid Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History Reid James 25.Morgan 26. FamilySearch. Why rins thy stream, O Yarrow, Yarrow, reid [with blood]? (English) The red-haired or ruddy person; one who came from Reed (reedy or rough growth), in Hertfordshire. 666,939 Census & Voter Lists. A total of 6,098 people have the surname Whyte in Jamaica. Reid / Reed / Read Family of Jamaica Start My Family Tree Welcome to Geni, home of the world's largest family tree. Greetings Harvey Reid, my name is Jacqueline REID-McKinnon, my Gr.Grandfather was William Vassall Reid, he was born in Renfrew,Scotland and was born around the mid 1800's, he married Emma Cecelia McDaniel,they had 6 children and lived in Manchester, Jamaica. he had nathing on his heid bot syde [low-hanging] reid yallow hair.Lindsay, Hist. Enjoy this name printed onto our colourful scroll, printed in Olde English script. Robert le Rede, Surrey, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. For the purposes of Clan identification, the family name Reid is officially a sept of the Clan Robertson and as such is entitled to the Clan Badge and Crest of the Robertsons. The most common Jamaican surnames a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Brown (68620) Williams (61773) Smith (46522) Campbell (41240) Johnson (38899) Thompson (31910) Clarke (29301) Thomas (27573) Henry (26493) Reid (26189) Gordon (25486) Robinson (22686) Grant (22259) Francis (21062) Edwards (20275) Lewis (19762) Wilson (19560) Strong oral evidence suggests that the focus of the Reid Clan was in MARLEY HILL,Manchester. The surname Thomas-Reid is carried by more people in Jamaica than any other country or territory. Redd FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis. A total of 5,151 people have the surname Baker in Jamaica. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Either way, we may conclude that it meant "red-haired" or "ruddy complexioned." Hello, Unknown.Thanks for sharing that information.Hopefully, more Jamaicans will add information about the last names they consider to be the ones that are most often found in Jamaica. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Reid as 90th with 51,282 people. Smith (English origin) meaning "to smite". 'the red,' a sobriquet given on account of the ruddy face or the sanguine red complexion of the hair; compare Black, White, Russell, Blunt, &c. Middle English reed or rede, red. Roger de la Rede is noted in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in the year 1208. infra; IF 307*; MIF 207*. Patrick dictus Rede was on an assize at Rane in 1335 (REA., I, p. 61), John Reed was collector of tithe in the deaneries of Stormonth and Atholl in 1362 (ER., I, p. 110), and James Reed was bailie of the burgh of Stirling in 1364 (ibid., I, p. 146). White-Reid Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022. There are 196,000 immigration records available for the last name Reid. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reid research. There was some Kerr living at Ramble Hill montego Bay ST james.Th w y were Indians. Reid is a surname of Scottish origin. Henry III-Edward I. Martin le Rede, et Jacoba uxor ejus, Fines Roll, 1 Edward III. What Does The Name Reid Mean? - The Meaning of Names Francis 15. Retrieved from, New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). A total of 8,725 people have the surname Morrison in Jamaica. Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Reid life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2000. A total of 15,917 people have the surname Richards in Jamaica. Early immigrants include: The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. The surname Forbes-Reid is the 8,193,072 nd most numerous surname at a global level. In 1840 there were 51 Reid families living in Ohio. I'm reliably informed that Reid is of Celtic, Scottish origin. Jamaica Saint Elizabeth Parish Guide to Saint Elizabeth Parish family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. . Reid History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms - HouseOfNames Reed, a parish in Hertfordshire; Reede, another in Suffolk. . I am mostly interested in Gordon and Spence from Hanover. Retrieved from, HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. A total of 14,429 people have the surname McKenzie in Jamaica. Godwin le Rede, Norfolk, 1273. Around the world Reids are most common in Canberra (one in 354 families), Vancouver (one in 563) and Toronto (one in 565). The surname Reid was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland where the name has been found since the 14th century. Thus the name would be given to someone with a ruddy complexion or red hair. One branch was found at Troughend-Ward. A total of 8,057 people have the surname Murray in Jamaica. This last name is the 1,571st most frequently held family name globally It is held by around 1 in 21,119 people. A total of 9,320 people have the surname Chambers in Jamaica. The surname Forbes-Reid occurs more in Jamaica more than any other country or territory. This surname is derived from a nickname. There are 973,000 census records available for the last name Reid. Understand it all by viewing our, Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in, Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI, Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10, https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth, http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820, http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html, http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html, https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance, https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A, http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html, http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html, https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html, https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/, http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/, http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html, Contemporary Notables of the name Reid (post 1700), Gabriell Reid, aged 18, who arrived in New, Elizabeth Reid, who landed in Maryland in 1674, Abraham Reid, who arrived in Maryland in 1678, George Reid, who settled in East New Jersey in 1684, Andrew Reid, who landed in New Jersey in 1685, Christian James Reid, who arrived in Georgia in 1738, Duncan Reid, who arrived in New York in 1739, John Reid, his wife and son, who settled in New York in 1739, Henry Reid, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1751, Charles Reid, who was on record in Pensacola, FL in 1768, Daniel Reid, who landed in America in 1811, Isaiah Reid, aged 52, who landed in South Carolina in 1812, George Reid, aged 30, who arrived in Georgia in 1812, Adam Reid, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1816, Forest Reid, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817, Daniel Reid, who arrived in Montreal in 1770, John Reid, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803, Eliza Reid, aged 23, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803, Alexander Reid, aged 3 1/4, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803, Ann Reid, aged 1 1/4, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803, Alexander Reid, who arrived in Canada in 1828, Jane Reid, British convict from Britain, who was transported aboard the "Alexander" on November 4, 1815, settling in, Miss Elizabeth Reid, (b. Reid Name Meaning & Reid Family History at Ancestry.com A total of 20,966 people have the surname Francis in Jamaica. Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2022. It may also occur as a variant:. I'm trying to find the kerr that I am related to there are Hanover,my grandfather is from st James Jamaica his name was George Kerr he died about 1947i was told by my father who is now deceased his name was Cleveland v Kerr,I am just trying to locate relatives I don't know. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. This was about 10% of all the recorded Reid's in USA. A total of 6,225 people have the surname Malcolm in Jamaica. Thanks for your comment.I apologize for just responding to your comment. An epithet surname meaning 'red haired' or 'ruddy complexioned.' Retrieved from, Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from, Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). A total of 16,247 people have the surname Morgan in Jamaica. TOP 100: the list of the most popular Jamaican surnames 1.Brown 2.Williams 3.Smith 4.Campbell 5. With a total of 26,471 people surnamed Henry, it is the ninth most common surname in Jamaica. A total of 5,317 people have the surname Ferguson in Jamaica. 2. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reid census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more. With a total of 62,754 people surnamed Williams, it is the second most common surname in Jamaica. The last name Miller-Reid is most common in Jamaica. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. A total of 9,492 people have the surname Walters in Jamaica. 22,024 Jamaicans have this last name. William Ewbank (1744-1800), of Bradfield Pen and Albion Plantations, St. Ann, Jamaica, came to Jamaica from England in 1769. Liesa Fleming and all those who ask about a specific Jamaican last name, I don't have any information about surnames in Jamaica or elsewhere other than what I find online.Hopefully, someone will respond with information about the last name you are asking about.Bless up! Forebears. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. A total of 9,492 people have the surname Mitchell in Jamaica. A total of 16,167 people have the surname Bailey in Jamaica. All rights reserved. His paintings hang in museums in London, Edinburgh, Oxford, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. Married Edward Reed and Elizabeth Mellon: St. George, Hanover Square. This REID index was pre-built so it loads quickly. Reid - This last names was most commonly given to families who lived in the woodlands, that had the occupation of clearing trees. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reid were Truck Driver and Cook. "Gilbert 'le Rede' of Coul was committed to prison and died there in 1296. For the veterans among your Reid ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions. Click here for live data and advanced tools for collaboration, genetic genealogy, surname projects, etc. Btw, I'm assuming that "Manchester" is in England. Click. The surname Stewart-Reid occurs predominantly in The Americas, where 100 percent of Stewart-Reid live; 53 percent live in Caribbean and 53 percent live in Anglo-Caribbean. Johnson 6.Thompson 7.Clarke 8.Thomas 9.Henry 10.Reid 11. The last name Thomas-Reid occurs mostly in The Americas, where 77 percent of Thomas-Reid reside; 54 percent reside in Caribbean and 54 percent reside in Anglo-Caribbean. He was married in 1771 to Ann Tracey Goulburn Cole, whose family owned Windsor, Liberty Hill and several other plantations in St. Ann. REID Genealogy | WikiTree FREE Family Tree Reid is a Scottish and N. The alternate forms: Red (2) are calculated separately. Retrieved from, Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. Hi, I was wondering about the last name Easter. Early examples from this source may include William Red in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Gloucestershire in 1176, and Gilbert le Rede of Coul, Scotland in 1296. 33. Besides The United States it occurs in 164 countries. Reeds were at one period a numerous clan in Kyle. Children were Robert Lindo Spence, Rebecca and Lillian Grace Spence that was what i could find. Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 2000- 2023 Swyrich Corporation, all rights reserved. The surname Reid is the Scottish or North English spelling version. The most Reid families were found in and Scotland in 1841. Stewart-Reid Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History Ferdinand arrived in America in 1923 through the Port of Philadelphia. There is a large Reid family in Warwick District, about four to five miles from Marley Hill. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many other Scottish surnames such as Douglas, Robinson, Reid, Russell, Lewis, McFarlane, McKenzie, McDonald, Grant, Gordon, Graham, Stewart, Simpson, Scott, Ferguson, Frazer and Farquharson are common in Jamaica - so are Scottish place names. This is a common medieval spelling. A total of 10,654 people have the last name Nelson in Jamaica. Any information on the origin of the Reid family would be appreciated. the form is usually reed. Similarly, his systems morality was based on an intuitive perception of ethics. Mildred Bennett nee Redwood was my Mother from Linstead. Ambassador to Israel (1959-1961), Antonio Reid (b. Removing this item from your shopping cart will remove your associated sale items. Reid / Reed / Read Family of Jamaica - Geni This is a surname of some controversy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reid census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more. Hello, Unknown.Hopefully, someone will add more information about these last names in Jamaica. Reeds were at one period a numerous Clan in Kyle. Last name: Reid. In the United States, the name Reid is the 232nd most popular surname with an estimated 114,402 people with that name. Maundevile says of the Red Sea: "that see is not more reed than another see." "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". Surname Database: Reid Last Name Origin They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity -, Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Jamaican Planters/Plantations Portal - Geni Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The first mention of the nickname derivation appears before the Norman Conquest in the earliest Kent annals. Wright 21.Stewart 22. NameCensus.com. You can see how Reid families moved over time by selecting different census years. [2] People with the surname [ edit] Alan Reid (disambiguation) Alex Reid (disambiguation), includes Alexander Reid Amanda Reid, Australian Paralympic athlete Amanda Reid (taxonomist), Australian biologist Amy Sanderson ne Reid (1876-1931), Scottish suffragette A total of 7,683 people have the surname McLean in Jamaica. Ancient charters show the name as Rufus (Latinized,) records include an Ada Rufus who witnessed resignation of the lands of Ingilbristoun in 1204; and a William Rufus, who was a juror on an inquest on the lands of Padevinan in 1259. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). A total of 5,714 people have the surname Gray in Jamaica. Yet another author claims it a locational name deriving from a place in Suffolk. [4] However, in Canada, the name Reid is ranked the 37th most popular surname with an estimated 43,241 people with that name. 1592-3. Early History of the Reid family. A total of 12,391 people have the surname Watson in Jamaica. A total of 8,781 people have the surname Foster in Jamaica. With a total of 31,557 people surnamed Thompson, it is the sixth most common surname in Jamaica. : Register of the University of Oxford. 'the red,' a sobriquet given on account of the ruddy face or the sanguine red complexion of the hair; compare Black, White, Russell, Blunt, &c. Middle English reed or rede, red.