Show ContentsBumpstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bumpstead family

The surname Bumpstead was first found in Essex, at either Bumpstead-Helion, Bumpstead-at-the-Tower, or Steeple Bumpstead. The earliest record of the name was as Bumesteda which was listed in the Domesday Book. By the 13th century, the place was listed as Bumpsted Helyin in 1238 and later a Stepilbumstede in 1261. The name literally means "place where the reeds grow" derived from the Old English "bune" + "stede." 1

Early History of the Bumpstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bumpstead research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1000 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Bumpstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bumpstead Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bumpstead has undergone many spelling variations, including Bumstead, Bumpstead, Bumsted, Bumstede, Bomstead, Baumstead, Bomsted and many more.

Early Notables of the Bumpstead family

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


Bumpstead migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 2
Bumpstead Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Stephen Bumpstead who settled in Barbados in 1684


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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