Reddick

This interesting and unusual name, with variant spelling Reddick is of locational origin from a place called Rerrick or Rerwick in the former county of Kirkcudbright in Scotland. The name may derive from the Old English pre 7th Century 'reafere', reiver plus 'wic', outlying settlement. The first element may also derive from the Old Norse 'rauethr', meaning red, which may have been partially replaced by the native equivalent, thus explaining the pronunciation preserved in the surname. Gilbert de Rerik, archdeacon of Glasgow, sat in the Scottish Parliament in 1467. John Redik was retoured heir in the five merk lands of Barharrow in 1599. On November 22nd 1753, James Riddick was christened in Borgue, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nicholas de Reraik, which was dated 1280, in the Register and records of Holm Cultram, during the reign of King Alexander 111, 1249-1286. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.