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)
- 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.