Stead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The origins of the Stead surname date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a man of mettle, or someone noted for his high spirits. In this case, this surname is derived from the Old English word steda, which means stud-horse or stallion.

Early Origins of the Stead family

The surname Stead was first found in Yorkshire. "This surname is derived from a geographical locality, 'at the stead,' a place, a station, a settlement; compare homestead, market-stead (= market-place). A great Yorkshire surname. The Market-place, Manchester, was the Market-stead till the close of the last century. The Market-stead, Ulverston, is commonly so set down in the parish registers till 1790. " 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has only one listing of the family: John Stede, Suffolk; while the Yorkshire Polls Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Robertas del Stede; Ricardus del Stede; Petrus del Stede; and Laurence del Stede underlining the importance of the Yorkshire heritage versus any other.

Early History of the Stead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stead research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1376, 1417, 1581, 1588, 1619, 1701, 1735 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Stead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stead Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Stead has been spelled many different ways, including Stead, Steed and others.

Early Notables of the Stead family

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

Stead World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stead is the 12,512^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Stead is ranked the 433^rd most popular surname with an estimated 108 people with that name. 3 And in the United Kingdom, the name Stead is the 929^th popular surname with an estimated 7,441 people with that name. 4

Stead migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Steads to arrive in North America:

Stead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Stead who settled in Virginia in 1649
John Stead, who landed in Virginia in 1657 5
Elizabeth Stead, who settled in Nevis in 1660
Doratha Stead, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 5
Ann Stead, who landed in Maryland in 1665 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stead Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Stead, who settled in New York State in 1774
Thomas Stead, who settled in Cape Fear North Carolina in 1774
Thomas Stead, aged 17, who arrived in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1774 5

Stead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Caroline, Daniel, Frederick, and George Stead, who settled in New York State in 1820
Thomas Stead, who landed in New York in 1832 5
John Stead, who arrived in New York in 1848 5
William Stead, who arrived in Mississippi in 1851 5
F Stead, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 5

Stead Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Stead, aged 23, originally from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Rosalind" from St. John's, Newfoundland 6

Stead migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stead Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Stead, who arrived in Prince Edward Island in 1817

Stead migration to Australia +

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

Stead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Fanny Stead who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 7
John Stead, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Eliza Stead, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Cicely Mary Stead, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 8
Mr. Thomas Stead, English convict who was convicted in Boston, Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stead 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:

Stead Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Stead, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
Mr. William Stead, (b. 1857), aged 7, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 10
Mrs. Stead, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 10
Mr. William Stead, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 10
George William Stead, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stead (post 1700) +

William Force Stead (1884-1967), American diplomat and poet
John Stead, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940 (alternate), 1944
James Stead, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Greene County, 1893
J. H. Stead, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1884
David F. Stead (b. 1952), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1994
Cynthia Stead, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 2008
Jean Laura Stead (1926-2016), English reporter, national news editor for The Guardian
Miss Stefanie Katherine Stead M.B.E., British Regional Chair for Yorkshire and Humber Construction Industry Council and Principal at Stead & Co, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Architecture and to the Construction Industry 11
Mr. David Joseph Stead M.B.E., British Major for the Corps of Royal Engineers, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 11
David George Stead (1877-1957), Australian marine biologist, ichthyologist, oceanographer, conservationist and writer
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)