Show ContentsBumstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bumstead family

The surname Bumstead 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 Bumstead family

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

Bumstead Spelling Variations

Bumstead has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bumstead have been found, including Bumstead, Bumpstead, Bumsted, Bumstede, Bomstead, Baumstead, Bomsted and many more.

Early Notables of the Bumstead family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Bumstead of Norfolk


United States Bumstead migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bumsteads to arrive on North American shores:

Bumstead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward and Thomas Bumstead settled New England in 1630
  • Edward Bumstead, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1640 [2]
  • Thomas Bumstead, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1647 [2]
Bumstead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mary Bumstead, who settled in New York in 1823
  • Thomas, Bumstead Jr., who landed in New York in 1824 [2]
  • J. Bumstead, who settled in San Francisco in 1850
  • T Bumstead, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [2]

Australia Bumstead migration to Australia +

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

Bumstead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Bumstead, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Omega" [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bumstead (post 1700) +

  • Henry Andrews Bumstead (1870-1920), American physicist
  • Lloyd Henry Bumstead (1915-2006), American cinematic art director and production designer, winner of two Academy Awards
  • William H. Bumstead, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Stafford; Elected 1918; Defeated, 1920; First Selectman of Stafford, Connecticut, 1926 [4]
  • Jon Bumstead, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives 100th District; Elected 2012 [4]
  • Kenneth Bumstead, English expert on Chinese and oriental life
  • John Bumstead (b. 1958), English footballer


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. 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)
  3. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/omega1852.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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