Surname Riedy - Meaning and Origin
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Riedy: What does the surname Riedy mean?
The last name Riedy is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name O'Reidy, which itself comes from the old Gaelic name O'Riada. It translates to English as 'descendant of Riada'. 'Riada' is a personal name possibly derived from 'ri', meaning a king, and 'ada', meaning father or ancestor. Therefore, the meaning of the name could be interpreted as 'descendant of the king's father or ancestor'. The family was known to be a Bardic learned clan that lived in the south of Ireland. This means they were responsible for maintaining and passing on traditional knowledge, including poetry, storytelling, and music. However, it's essential to note that the name is widespread and variations can be found among different communities across the world, potentially with different origins and meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisRiedy: Where does the name Riedy come from?
The last name Riedy is most commonly found in the United States. It originated in Germany and is historically a surname associated with that region. The majority of people with the last name Riedy living in the US can be found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Specifically, the highest concentrations of individuals with the last name Riedy found in the 2010 US census data were in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. Suamico, Wisconsin and McDonough County, Illinois had the highest concentrations, followed by Outer Grant County, Wisconsin, and Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
There were significantly lower concentrations of individuals with the last name Riedy found in Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina.
Riedy is rare as a first name but has been known to crop up occasionally. It is most commonly seen used as a middle name. Genealogical research suggests that the last name may have been derived from a German given name, corresponding with its historical origins.
Though the last name Riedy is most commonly found in the United States, it has a global presence, with individuals with the last name found in other countries including the UK, Canada, and Australia. The name’s Germanic origin likely accounts for its spread across the other German-speaking countries of Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Riedy
Riedy is a variant and spelling of the surname Riley. Some other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Riedy include Reilly, Reiley, Rileigh, and Reilley. In addition, Ryley, Rilee, and Riely are all related surnames that could originate from the same source as Riedy.
Riedy is an Irish surname, with its beginnings deriving from the old Irish Gaelic surname O’Raghailligh. This surname was often anglicized to Riley, or reduced to a single syllable and changed to Ryley or Rylie. It is believed that the origin of Riedy is from the Gaelic word righ, which means "king". This is a reference to the fact that the O’Raghailligh clan was an important and powerful family, and its members were once known as kings in the area that is now modern-day Ireland.
In other regions, there could be different variants and spellings of the name. For example, in Germany, the surname may appear as Reidele or Riedel, while in Italy, the name may be spelled Reidelli.
The spelling, variants, and surnames associated with Riedy are numerous, and understanding the origin of the name can help trace the family’s lineage. Furthermore, the fact that the name can be found with multiple spellings and variants all over the world is a testament to the reach of the O’Raghailligh clan and the impact that they have had on the world.
Famous people with the name Riedy
- Thomas C. Riedy: American climatologist and professor
- Ryan Riedy: American collegiate basketball coach
- Scott Riedy: former American weather anchor
- Cobi Riedy: American fashion designer
- Tom Riedy: Former American NBA player
- Mark Riedy: American ice hockey coach
- Andy Riedy: American 600basketball coach
- Matt Riedy: Former American NFL player
- Bob Riedy: Professional American baseball player
- Ryan Riedy: Former American basketball player