This site is to provide the many members of the ancient and noble RHÉDEY family with
some history and information of the origins of their family name. Variations of the
family name include von RHÉDEY, RÉDEI, RÉDEY and RÉDAY.


A Title, not a name....

You may be surprised to learn that "Rhédey" is not a "name" in the same context as we
usually think of names. 
The word "Rhédey" is a noble title and in the Hungarian language consists of two 
words, "réde" (rhéde), which is the name of the Lordship of "kisréde" or "nagyréde", 
including the village of kisréde / nagyréde (little-réde / greater-réde). 
The "y" at the end of the name means exactly the same as "von" in German, "from".
 
However, when used in a persons "name" it also means "Lord (Baronet) of ......". 
The Noble Title "Rhédey" is hereditary, and it is passed on to every member of the 
family. 
If you are a Rhedey and are looking for your historical "name", than actually your 
name is "Aba", and the "Rhédey" is the Noble Title of a senior line of the Aba 
Dynasty. (Genus Aba = Family/Dynasty of the Clan Aba).     
In Hungarian context, members of a specific clan, in this case "Aba", are always 
related by blood. 
The Hungarian noble clan of Aba (Genus Aba), was already a very powerful clan in
Hungary in the IX century. During the XII and XIII centuries the clan itself split 
into several associated families and each took their surnames from the estates or manors
that they possessed at the time. The Rhédey family took its' name from the estate of
'Kisréde' (now Nagyréde) of Heves County. 
There are nineteen noble families that directly descend from the Royal House of Aba,
and belong to Clan Aba - “Genus Aba”.
    
They are: Athinai, Bathory von Gagy, Berthothy, Budamery, Csirke, Csobanka, Frichi,
Gagyi, Hedry, Keczer, Kompolthi, Laczkffy de Nadasd, Lapispataky, Rhedey, Sirokay,
Somos, Vendegny and Vitez.
These family members are all Lords of their own Lordships, but, are all members of the
same family; the Genus Aba.