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Read Family History

Read Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: variant of Reed.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Read family from?

You can see how Read families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Read family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Read families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,915 Read families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Read's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Read families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Read surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Read ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Read. 6% of Read men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Read women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Read were Retired and Private Means.

View Census Data for Read | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Retired
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Read family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 585,000 census records available for the last name Read. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Read census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Read

Passenger Lists

There are 54,000 immigration records available for the last name Read. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Read immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 65,000 military records available for the last name Read. For the veterans among your Read ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Read military records

You've only scratched the surface of Read family history

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What is the average Read lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Read life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Read in 1942 was 29, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Read

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Read ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Read family tree

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