Hamstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hamstead

What does the name Hamstead mean?

The ancestry of the name Hamstead dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in Suffolk. The surname Hamstead belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Hamstead family

The surname Hamstead was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Hamstead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hamstead research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172 and 1350 are included under the topic Early Hamstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hamstead Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hamstead have been found, including Hemstead, Hampstead, Hempstead, Hemsted and others.

Early Notables of the Hamstead family

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

Migration of the Hamstead family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Hamstead, or a variant listed above: Robert Hempstead who settled in New London Conn. in 1630; John Hempstead arrived in New England in 1777; Richard Hemstead settled in Virginia in 1652..

Contemporary Notables of the name Hamstead (post 1700) +

Richard E. Hamstead, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from West Virginia, 1960 1
Ezra Elbert Hamstead (1897-1980), American Republican politician, Chair of Monongalia County Republican Party, 1946-52; Delegate to Republican National Convention from West Virginia, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960 2

Sources +

The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html