Reith

Reith is a Scottish surname, and may refer to:

• Charles Reith, Scottish police historian
• John Reith (general)
• John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, Scottish broadcasting executive (Lord Reith of the BBC)
• Douglas Reith, British actor
• Peter Reith, Australian politician

Origin

The origin of this Scottish surname is uncertain. However, there are explanations as to its origin:

• It may be an anglicized and reduced form of Mac Raith, meaning 'son of grace' (see McRae).
• Another possibility is that it is a habitational name and comes from a Cumbric or Pictish cognate of Welsh rhyd, meaning 'ford'.
• A less likely explanation is that it denoted somebody originally from Reeth, Northern England.
• It could, at least in some cases, be a variation of Reid.

In North America, this surname has absorbed several like-sounding surnames.

See also

• Baron Reith
• Reith (Magna Carta)
• Wreath