Show ContentsArmitstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Armitstead is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived near or at a hermit's cell. The surname Armitstead is derived from the Old French word ermite, which means hermit, and the Old English word stede, which means place. [1] [2]

The name may also be an Anglicized form of the German surname Darmstädter, which is derived from the settlement of Darmstadt in Hesse, a former landgraviate of Germany.

Early Origins of the Armitstead family

The surname Armitstead was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include some of the first listings of the family: Laurencius del Armetsted; Johannes de Armetstede who both held lands there at that time. [3] [2]

"This has been a Yorkshire surname for five centuries at least." [3]

Later in Norfolk we found William Armistead, was vicar of Berwick Parva, Norfolk in 1587. [4]

Early History of the Armitstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Armitstead research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1527, 1618, 1645, 1676, 1680, 1693, 1696, 1699, 1726, 1748, 1780, 1781, 1783, 1812, 1817, 1818, 1820, 1824, 1830, 1844, 1845 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Armitstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Armitstead Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Armitstead were recorded, including Armistead, Armitstead, Armystead, Armstead, Olmstead, Ormstead, Ampstead and many more.

Early Notables of the Armitstead family

Notables of the family at this time include Captain Anthony Armistead (1645-1726), British Justice of the Peace in the British Colony and Dominion of Virginia. He was born in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, the son of William Armistead. He assisted Sir William Berkeley's courts-martial in 1676 to try the Bacon insurgents and was a justice of the peace and Captain of Horse in 1680. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1693, 1696, 1699. He married Hannah Ellyson and had five children; the...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Armitstead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Armitstead migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Armitstead family emigrate to North America:

Armitstead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alfred Armitstead, aged 55, originally from Leeds, arrived in New York in 1897 aboard the ship "Lucania" from Liverpool, England [5]
Armitstead Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mary Alice Armitstead, aged 44, arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Liverpool, England [5]
  • Robert Armitstead, aged 49, arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Saxonia" from London, England [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Armitstead (post 1700) +

  • Sydney Henry Armitstead (1837-1912), English cricketer
  • William George Armitstead (1833-1907), English cricketer who played for Oxford University (1853-1857), Marylebone Cricket Club in 1864, Manchester in 1852 and Gentlemen of the North in 1862
  • Elizabeth Mary "Lizzie" Armitstead (b. 1988), birth name of Elizabeth Mary Deignan, English cyclist, five-time medalist at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2009 and 2010
  • John Armitstead (1868-1941), English clergyman, Archdeacon of Macclesfield (1932–1941)
  • George Armitstead (1824-1915), 1st Baron Armitstead, born in Latvia, son of an English jute merchant, a British businessman, philanthropist and politician, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
  • Sophie Armitstead (b. 1994), Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club (2017-)
  • George Armitstead (1847-1912), 4th Mayor of Riga, Latvia (1901-1912); his uncle was George Armitstead, 1st Baron Armitstead


The Armitstead Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ever ready
Motto Translation: Always prepared


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


Houseofnames.com on Facebook