Grimstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Grimstead

What does the name Grimstead mean?

The ancient surname Grimstead dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it is recorded as Gremestede, 1 having derived from the Old English "grene" + "ham-stede." 2 Today named East and West Grimstead, both are found in the union and hundred of Alderbury, Salisbury and Amesbury in Wiltshire, England. 3

"The ancient manor-house is still remaining, though much mutilated, and retaining little of its original character. The church is a very ancient structure of flint, with quoins of freestone, and has details of the Norman, and early and decorated English styles." 3

East and West Grinsted in Sussex are other possible origin points for the family. 4 While these place names are phonetically similar to Grimstead, they have different origins, specifically meaning "green place," from the Old English "grene" + "stede." plus the "west" or "east" prefix. 2 West Grinsted is older of the two, dating back to the Domesday Book where it was recorded as Grenestede. 1

Early Origins of the Grimstead family

The surname Grimstead was first found in Sussex, England where William de Grenested was listed in the Pipe Roles of 1230. Later William de Grinstede was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 4

Early History of the Grimstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grimstead research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1630 and 1665 are included under the topic Early Grimstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grimstead Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grimstead, Grimsteed, Grimsted, Grimstede, Grinstead, Grinsted and many more.

Early Notables of the Grimstead family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grimstead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grimstead migration to the United States +

Grimstead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alse Grimstead, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 5
Rich Grimstead, who received a land patent in Virginia in 1679

Grimstead Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Grimstead, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 5
William Grimstead, who arrived in Annapolis, Maryland in 1757

Grimstead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J Grimstead, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 5

Grimstead migration to Australia +

Grimstead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Grimstead, (b. 1805), aged 38, English ploughman who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 15 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1877 6
James Grimstead, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Confiance" 7

Sources +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
South Australian Register Tuesday 30th November 1858. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Confiance 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/confiance1858.shtml