Welcome to the Reed Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Reed surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Reed ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Reed Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Reed family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Reed brick wall? Read "Searching For A Needle In An Ancestral Haystack" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Reed Ancestors
Reed Genealogy
Keep an open mind when searching through Reed records. Years ago many people were unable to read and write, thus a given ancestor's name could be spelled in a variety of ways depending on who recorded it. If you want to know How can I locate old newspapers for Reed research?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Reed
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Reed records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Reed family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Reed Surname
There are no clear, concise answers to why or how one of your Reed ancestors took on the surname. It may have been based on their occupation or a distinguising physical trait. Were you aware that Reed is considered a very common surname, which offers its own set of challenges? The article "Researching Common Names" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Reed DNA Projects
Don't believe the hype! When DNA testing was first made available for genealogical purposes, some companies boasted how it could solve all your Reed family tree mysteries. DNA testing can be a useful tool, when applied properly to a given research issue. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Reed research, read "Using DNA to Find Your Surname".
Reed Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Reed ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing How do I find my Reed family history on the Internet? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Reed Researchers
When you've come up against a brick wall in your genealogy research, posting a message board query can help; one of the biggest benefits is that message board queries are accessed through search engines, which means even someone not specifically engaged in genealogy but interested in your subject may find your query and bring valuable new information to the table -- it happens! The article "The Art of Posting Queries" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Reed queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Reed ancestors.
Reed Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Reed was the 55th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Reed Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Reed, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Recently Discovered REED Clippings and Mentions
Upcoming Reed Family Reunions
Notifying everyone in advance to bring old photos and documents can bring big rewards, making a special place at the reunion (maybe even a special Reed booth) where people can come at their leisure to sit, look and chat; in addition to information and clues that might be written on the back of a photo, every photograph has a story and serves as an excellent stimulus to recall -- people might comment not only on the people in the photo, but also on what's in the background, or they might have information around where the photo was taken or the event -- just be sure to have someone there to capture new information. The article "A Great Way to Unite a Newly-Found Family" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Reed reunion.
See Also
Reet Reid Rid Reyd Reeda Reede Reedi Reedo Reedy Ree McReed Van Eed
Surname Finder, The Reed Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.