Redmond
A surname from an old personal name meaning roughly “counsel-protection,” later well established in Ireland.
The #1,647 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,141 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is generally explained as coming from an old Germanic personal name, Old English Redmund (also written Redmund/Redmond), made from words meaning “counsel” and “protection” or “hand, protector.” In this tradition, the first element is related to Old English rǣd, “counsel, advice,” and the second to mund, “protection, hand.” Later, the surname was treated as an inherited family name from that given name rather than as a place-name.
History
Nineteenth-century sources note Redmond as an ancient personal name and connect one early Irish family of the name with followers of the Earl of Pembroke who came to Ireland in 1170. The surname became especially established in Ireland, where it has long been prominent. Some older writers also mention spellings and related forms such as Redmund.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older surname books say Redmond was sometimes altered in spelling to Redman, which can make medieval records tricky to sort out.
From the historical record
“REDMOND 1 (Teut.) the A.-Sax. Rckdmund, RED MONDE i O.Ger. Rddmund = Counsel- REDMUND I Pr;otection [O.E. rdd = O.Sax. rdd = O.H.Ger. rdt = O.N. rdV, counsel, advice+O.E. O.Sax. O.N. mund= O.H.Ger. mmt (Ger. mund), hand, protect”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)