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Hempstead Family History

Hempstead Name Meaning

English: habitational name chiefly from Hempstead in Essex or from either of two places called Hempstead in Norfolk. In Kent the surname is from Hempstead in Gillingham Hemsted in Benenden or Hemsted in Lyminge (all Kent). It is unclear whether (Hemel) Hempstead in Hertfordshire or Hempstead in Gloucestershire also lie behind the modern surname. The Essex and Kent placenames may derive from Old English henep ‘hemp’ + stede ‘place’ while the Norfolk and Hertfordshire placenames probably come from Old English hām-stede ‘homestead’. The Gloucestershire placename derives from Old English hēah ‘high’ + hām-stede.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Halstead, Umstead, Newstead, Hemsley, Kempster, Dempster, Bumstead

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Where is the Hempstead family from?

You can see how Hempstead families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hempstead family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hempstead families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 83 Hempstead families living in Essex. This was about 23% of all the recorded Hempstead's in United Kingdom. Essex and 1 other county had the highest population of Hempstead families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hempstead surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Hempstead ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hempstead. 27% of Hempstead men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Hempstead women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hempstead were House Decorator and Household Duties (unpaid). .

View Census Data for Hempstead | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    27%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    14%
  • Inshore Fisherman
    10%
  • House Decorator
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Cook
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hempstead family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Hempstead. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hempstead census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hempstead

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Hempstead. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hempstead immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Hempstead. For the veterans among your Hempstead ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hempstead military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hempstead family history

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What is the average Hempstead lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Hempstead life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Hempstead in 1946 was 37, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hempstead

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