Stead Family History

English (West Yorkshire and Lancashire):: in Yorkshire and Lancashire a habitational name primarily from Stead near Storiths in Hazlewood (Skipton Yorkshire) which became a grange of Bolton Priory. Alternative origins might include Stead Farm in Nether Hoyland (Yorkshire) and Stidd in Ribchester (Lancashire) but it is not known if this latter produced a surviving hereditary surname.

Across England the name may arise from one or other minor places which were also named with Middle English stede ‘farm estate; hamlet’ (Old English stede); for example The Stude in Church Lawford (Warwickshire).

The word was especially common in minor names and field names in south and southeastern England.

variant of Steed.