Surname Reardon - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling My Roots: A Personal Journey Through the iGENEA DNA Test as a Reardon

In the quest to understand their origins better, a Reardon took the iGENEA DNA test. The process unravelled the rich past of the family name, and connected them with the wider Reardon family.

F. Reardon

Reardon: What does the surname Reardon mean?

The last name Reardon is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Riordáin". The prefix "Ó" means "descendant of" and "Riordáin" is a personal name believed to be derived from the word "rí" meaning "king" or "rígh" meaning royal. Therefore, the surname Reardon can be interpreted as "descendant of the royal one" or "descendant of the little king", suggesting that the ancestries of the Reardon family held prestigious or significant positions. Like many Irish surnames, it is often found with various spellings such as O’Reardon, Riordan, and Rearden, among others, due to anglicization of Gaelic names. It is mainly associated with the County Cork in the southern part of Ireland.

Reardon: Where does the name Reardon come from?

The last name Reardon is of Irish origin. It is a patronymic surname that comes from the personal name “Riocard”, which was the Gaelic form of Richard. It is thought that the original bearers of the name Reardon were descended from an ancient Irish chieftain named Richard O’Riordain, who was one of the earliest inhabitants of County Cork.

Today, the last name Reardon is most prevalent in the United States and Ireland. In the United States, the states with the most Reardons are Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. In fact, according to the 2010 United States Census, Reardons made up 0.002% of the population in the United States at the time, with the majority of bearers living in New England. That same census also shows that nearly 60% of the city of Reardons were of Irish descent.

In Ireland, the last name Reardon is still quite common in counties such as Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. According to the last census, Reardons made up 0.21% of Ireland’s population.

Reardons have spread beyond the United States and Ireland as well, with some bearers having made their way to places like Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. With such a widespread reach, it’s no surprise that the last name Reardon is still quite common today.

Variations of the surname Reardon

The surname Reardon is derived from an Irish or Gaelic name and is believed to be of ancient origin. It was first noted in manuscripts as O'Riordain, O'Riardan, O'Reardon and Ó Ridiráin.

Variant spellings of Reardon are Rerden, Reardan, Rierdon, Reynard, Reynerd, Raymond, Raynerd, Raynard, Rainard, Ryard, Rynerd, Raidans, Raidon, Raidonn, Rideron, Riorden, Rerdon, Riorden, Rirdon, Reardonne, Readon, Readonn, Rearden, Reedon, Reddon, Redon, Reddan, Reddon, Reddan and Redden.

Variant surnames of Reardon include Reordan, Reorden, Reardan, Rearson, Rerdon, Redon, Reddan, Reddish, Rearden, Readon, Reardonne, Reirdon, Raynard, Rainard, Reynard, Rynerd, Raymond, Raidonn, Raidon, Raidans, Raidonn, Ridereon, Riordon, Riorden, Ryard, Reardonne, Reardonn, Readonn and Reirdon.

Reardon is generally a sept or clan arising from County Clare, Ireland and it has been found in substantial numbers in County Limerick as well. It was one of the first flights of Gaelic families who left Ireland during the oppressive rule of the English occupation during the 1600s and early 1700s. Reardon is currently found in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Wales.

Famous people with the name Reardon

• Patrick Reardon: American writer, journalist, newspaper columnist, and columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
• John Reardon: American actor best known for Gavin Stenhouse's role in NBC's Blindspot.
• Juliana Reardon: American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the DC superhero series iZombie.
• Denis Reardon: Canadian animator who has worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, Warner Bros. Animation and Disney Television Animation.
• Tom Reardon: American actor, best known for roles in shows such as Sirens, The Mentalist and Modern Family.
• David Reardon: American author of books about Christian philosophy and abortion.
• Robert Reardon: American retired professional soccer player, formerly of the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.
• Kathryn Reardon: American lawyer, educator, and author of books related to education law and human rights.
• Joe Reardon: American politician and former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.
• Patricio Reardon: Argentine professional football player who currently plays for Spanish club Espanyol.

Other surnames

ReardanRearden