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Reading Family History

Reading Surname Meaning

English: variant of Redding.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Reading family from?

You can see how Reading families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reading family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Reading families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 617 Reading families living in London. This was about 25% of all the recorded Reading's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Reading families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reading 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 Reading 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 Reading. 12% of Reading men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Reading women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reading were Carpenter and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Reading | 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
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Farmer
    4%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Reading family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 77,000 census records available for the last name Reading. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Reading census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Reading

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Reading. 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 Reading immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Reading. For the veterans among your Reading ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reading military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reading family history

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What is the average Reading lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Reading life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Reading in 1952 was 60, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reading

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reading 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 Reading family tree

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