Show ContentsPlaysted History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Playsted Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins and Etymology of Playsted

The surname Playsted was first found in Essex at Plaistow, a ward and district chapelry, in the parish and union of West Ham, hundred of Becontree, about 5 miles (E. by N.) from London. Alternatively the family could have originated in the West division of Sussex, at Plaistow, a chapelry, in the parish of Kirdford, union of Petworth, hundred of Rotherbridge, rape of Arundel. 1 To complicate matters more, there are location names Derbyshire and Kent and one source notes that the name could have originated in Plaster Down, Devon; Plastow Green; Plasterhill Farm; or Pleastor in Hampshire, 2

"In medieval times, most large parishes had their play-stow, playsted, or locus ludorum, for the recreation of the inhabitants. " 3

It is generally agreed that the name originated from the Old English "pleg-stow," which means "place for play or sport." 4

The first record of the family was of Robert de Plegestoue who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1168. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the wide spelling variations used by the family: Robert atte Pleistowe, Oxfordshire; Nicholas de la Pleystowe, Oxfordshire; and John de la Playstowe, Wiltshire. 5 Later, Cristian atte Pleystouwe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 2

Early History of the Playsted family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Playsted research. Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1194, 1510, 1562, 1600, 1635, 1715, 1760, 1783, 1785 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Playsted History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Playsted Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Playsted, Playstead, Paisted, Plaistead, Plaister, Playstow, Plaistowe, Plastow, Plester and many more.

Early Notables of the Playsted family

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

Playsted migration to the United States +



Playsted Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Playsted, who settled in Virginia in 1701
  • Abigail Playsted, who settled in America in 1750

Playsted migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Playsted Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Playsted, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Solent" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th July 1857 6
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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