Benstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Benstead is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Benstead family lived in Hampshire at Binstead, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Benestede. 1 Alternatively, the name could have originated on the Isle of Wight at Binstead which was also listed Benestede in the Domesday Book. In both occurrences, the place name means "place where beans are grown," from the Old English words "bean" + "stede." 2

Early Origins of the Benstead family

The surname Benstead was first found in East Hampshire at Binsted, today a village and large civil parish or on the Isle of Wight at the village of Binstead. Of the two, Binsted in Hampshire is generally thought to have been the most likely origin of the surname. Conjecturally, they were descended from Hugh le Port, a Norman noble, who held the lands of Binstead from the Monks of the Bishop of Winchester at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book. They were also related to the Binsteads of Sussex, from the place of that name. Early census records revealed: John de Benstede and Maud de Bensted listed in Norfolk; and William de Benstede in Kent during the reign of Edward III. 3

Sir John de Benstede (d. 1323?), was an English judge who accompanied Edward I to Flanders in 1297 as Keeper of the great seal

Early History of the Benstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Benstead research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1297, 1305, 1306, 1308, 1320, 1333 and 1937 are included under the topic Early Benstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benstead Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Benstead include Bensted, Benstead, Binstead, Benestede, Bense, Benstede and many more.

Early Notables of the Benstead family

More information is included under the topic Early Benstead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Benstead migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Bensteads to arrive on North American shores:

Benstead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Matthew Benstead who settled in Virginia in 1650
Math Benstead, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 4

Benstead migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Benstead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Benstead, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Violet"

Benstead migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Benstead Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Benstead, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th March 1860 5
Miss Benstead, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th March 1860 5
James Benstead, aged 42, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
Mary Benstead, aged 39, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6
C. C. Benstead, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Benstead (post 1700) +

Christopher Benstead, American Academy Award winning sound engineer and music editor, best known for his work on Gravity
W. W. Benstead, American Republican political candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Farmington, 1912
W. W. Benstead, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Farmington, 1912 7
James "Jamie" Richard Benstead (b. 1979), English cricketer who played from 2000 to 2006
Graham Mark Benstead (b. 1963), English professional footballer
Rupe Benstead (1889-1961), Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in 1911

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html