Binstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Binstead came to England with the ancestors of the Binstead family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Binstead 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 Binstead family

The surname Binstead 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 Binstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Binstead 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 Binstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Binstead Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Bensted, Benstead, Binstead, Benestede, Bense, Benstede and many more.

Early Notables of the Binstead family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John de Benstede, a prominent member of the English royal household, Prebendary of Sandiacre (1297-1308?) King's Secretary and Keeper of the...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Binstead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Binstead migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Binstead or a variant listed above:

Binstead Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Binstead, who settled in Virginia in 1730

Binstead migration to Australia +

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

Binstead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Arthur Binstead, (b. 1781), aged 50, English sawyer who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1851 4
Mr. George Binstead, (b. 1813), aged 18, English sawyer who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1867 4
Mr. John Binstead, British convict who was convicted in Clerkenwell, London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

Binstead 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:

Binstead Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Catherine Binstead, (b. 1828), aged 37, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 6
Miss Emma Binstead, (b. 1851), aged 14, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 6
Miss Harriet Binstead, (b. 1852), aged 13, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 6
Miss Sarah Binstead, (b. 1854), aged 11, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 6
Miss Agnes Binstead, (b. 1860), aged 5, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Binstead family +

RMS Titanic

Mr. Walter William Binstead, aged 19, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 3 7

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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cornwall
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html