Reith

Reith is a Scottish surname, and may refer to:


 * 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.