Show ContentsPlaistow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Plaistow Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins and Etymology of Plaistow

The surname Plaistow was first found in Essex at Plaistow, a ward and district chapelry, in the parish and union of West Ham, hundred of Becontree, about 5 miles (E. by N.) from London. Alternatively the family could have originated in the West division of Sussex, at Plaistow, a chapelry, in the parish of Kirdford, union of Petworth, hundred of Rotherbridge, rape of Arundel. 1 To complicate matters more, there are location names Derbyshire and Kent and one source notes that the name could have originated in Plaster Down, Devon; Plastow Green; Plasterhill Farm; or Pleastor in Hampshire, 2

"In medieval times, most large parishes had their play-stow, playsted, or locus ludorum, for the recreation of the inhabitants. " 3

It is generally agreed that the name originated from the Old English "pleg-stow," which means "place for play or sport." 4

The first record of the family was of Robert de Plegestoue who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1168. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the wide spelling variations used by the family: Robert atte Pleistowe, Oxfordshire; Nicholas de la Pleystowe, Oxfordshire; and John de la Playstowe, Wiltshire. 5 Later, Cristian atte Pleystouwe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 2

Early History of the Plaistow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Plaistow research. Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1194, 1510, 1562, 1600, 1635, 1715, 1760, 1783, 1785 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Plaistow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Plaistow Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Playsted, Playstead, Paisted, Plaistead, Plaister, Playstow, Plaistowe, Plastow, Plester and many more.

Early Notables of the Plaistow family

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

Plaistow migration to the United States +



Plaistow Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Josiah Plaistow of Essex who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 6
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm

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