The Melstead name is a habitational name derived from Milstead in Kent.
Early Origins of the Melstead family
The surname Melstead was first found in
Kent at Milstead, a village in the borough of Swale which dates back to the late 11th century when it was listed as Milstede. The place name probably means "middle place" from the Old English middel + stede.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) However, the first reference of the surname was in the
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Richard de Minsted was listed in
Buckinghamshire. Apparently the "n" and the "l" were often interchanged.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) In this case, the name could have originated at Minstead is a small village and civil parish in the New Forest,
Hampshire. This village dates back to the
Domesday Book of 1086
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) where it was listed as Mintestede and literally meant "place where mint grows or is grown," from the Old English word minte + stede.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Melstead family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melstead research.
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Melstead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Melstead Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Melsted, Melstead, Milstead, Misted and others.
Early Notables of the Melstead family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Melstead Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Melstead family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Edward Milstead, a bonded passenger, who arrived in Barbados or Jamaica in 1674; as well as John Milsteed, who left
England for Virginia in 1774.