ðə fˈɜːst ɹˈɪʔn̩ jˈuːs ʌvðə nˈeɪm ɪz ðæt əvə lˈiəfwaɪn sˈiː ɹˈiːd lˈiəfwaɪn ðə ɹˈɛd, ɪnðə tˈaɪm ʌv kˈɪŋ kˈænuːt, dˈeɪɾɪŋ tə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɪkstiːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd twˈɛnti.
The first written use of the name is that of a Leofwine se Reade (Leofwine the Red), in the time of King Canute, dating to 1016–1020.