This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Halstead family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Halstead Family History

Halstead Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from any of various places bearing this name for example in Essex (Haltesteda in Domesday Book), Kent, and Leicestershire, all of which are probably named from Old English h(e)ald ‘refuge, shelter’ + stede ‘site’ or possibly Hawstead in Suffolk, which has the same origin.

However, the name is now most frequent in Lancashire and Yorkshire where it is from High Halstead in Burnley, named as the ‘site of a hall’ from Middle English hal(le) + sted(des) stud(es) ‘hall buildings’.

(Old English h(e)all ‘hall’ + stede ‘place’).

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Halstead family from?

You can see how Halstead families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Halstead family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Halstead families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,277 Halstead families living in Lancashire. This was about 47% of all the recorded Halstead's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Halstead families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Halstead surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Halstead ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Halstead. 21% of Halstead men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 62% of Halstead women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Halstead were Motor Driver and Private Means.

View Census Data for Halstead | 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

  • Cotton Weaver
    21%
  • General Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Motor Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Cotton Weaver
    10%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Halstead family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 94,000 census records available for the last name Halstead. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Halstead census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Halstead

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Halstead. 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 Halstead immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Halstead. For the veterans among your Halstead ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Halstead military records

You've only scratched the surface of Halstead family history

Discover More

What is the average Halstead lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Halstead life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Halstead in 1952 was 27, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Halstead

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Halstead ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Halstead family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial