Show ContentsHempstead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Hempstead family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Suffolk. The surname Hempstead 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 Hempstead family

The surname Hempstead 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 Hempstead family

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

Hempstead Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hempstead include Hemstead, Hampstead, Hempstead, Hemsted and others.

Early Notables of the Hempstead family

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


Hempstead migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hempstead were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Hempstead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Hempstead who settled in New London Conn. in 1630
  • Robert Hempstead, who arrived in New London, Connecticut in 1643 1
  • William Hempstead, who landed in Maryland in 1663 1
Hempstead Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Hempstead, who arrived in New England in 1777
Hempstead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Maria Hempstead, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 1
Hempstead Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Howard Maxwell Hempstead, who arrived in Alabama in 1920 1

Hempstead migration to Australia +

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

Hempstead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Hempstead (post 1700) +

  • Hessley James Hempstead II (1972-2021), American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Detroit Lions (1995–1998)
  • Stephen P. Hempstead (1812-1883), American politician, Delegate to Iowa State Constitutional Convention from Dubuque, Delaware, Black Hawk and Fayette counties, 1844; Governor of Iowa, 1850-54
  • Samuel H. Hempstead, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Little Rock, Arkansas, 1838-39; U.S. Attorney for Arkansas, 1844-50
  • Hiram A. Hempstead, American politician, First Selectman of Ledyard, Connecticut, 1888
  • Hallem Hempstead, American politician, Member of Ohio State Senate from Washington and Gallia counties, 1805-07
  • George R. Hempstead, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Groton, 1917-18; Defeated, 1918; Warden (borough president) of Groton, Connecticut, 1922-27
  • G. Harold Hempstead, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Groton, 1934
  • Edward Hempstead (1780-1817), American politician, Delegate to U.S. Congress from Missouri Territory, 1812-14. Was thrown from a horse, which resulted in his death six days later, at St. Louis, Missouri, August 10, 1817 (age 37 years, 68 days)
  • D. K. Hempstead, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 6th District, 1912
  • Christopher Hempstead, American politician, U.S. Consul in Belize City, 1847-63
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. 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)
  2. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa


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