FELSTEAD
Felstead is a surname of English provenance, traditionally a habitational name that denotes a connection with a specific locality. The name is chiefly associated with the village of Felsted in Essex and, to a lesser extent, with a place named Felstead in Lincolnshire. In both instances the name arises from Old English components that describe the landscape of the settlement.
The core elements of the surname are feld – meaning field, pasture or open land – and stede, a place or site. The combination therefore conveys the sense of a place in the open land or, alternatively, a hill or elevated ground overlooking fields, as some interpretations of the initial element suggest. The toponym is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Felstede, confirming its existence as a distinct location in early medieval England.
The first definite appearance of the name in a personal context dates from 1273, when a man named William de Feltested is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Essex. This entry, made during the reign of King Edward the First (1272–1307), shows the name in use as a surname, a practice that had become common among those who migrated from their birthplace for work or other reasons. The addition of the pre‑position de indicates a locational origin: “of Felsted.”
Church registers provide a further glimpse into the history of the name. Examples include Margaret Felsted, christened on 3 December 1559 at Great Burnstead, Essex; Rose Felsted, who married John Hatche on 23 April 1560 also at Great Burnstead; and Grace Felstead, who married Christopher Wade on 23 January 1627 in St. Mary Abchurch, London. Another record notes the christening of Susan Felstead, daughter of Matthie Felstead, in St. Gregory by St. Paul, London, on 11 January 1635. These entries demonstrate that the surname persisted in English parish records well into the early modern period.
In contemporary times the surname remains relatively uncommon. Its highest density today is still found in south‑east England, particularly within Essex, London, Kent and Hertfordshire. Migration throughout the 18th and 19th centuries has deposited the name in overseas colonies, and it can now be encountered, albeit infrequently, in the United States, Canada and Australia. Nonetheless, the concentration of bearers remains strongest within its country of origin.
Variations of the spelling have arisen over the centuries, including Felsted, Felstede, Felstaid and even Phelstead. Such differences are typical of surnames that were transcribed by hand before the age of universal literacy, leading to phonetic interpretations by clerks. The modern spelling Felstead is the most common today, but the alternate forms are occasionally seen in historical documents and genealogical research.
Typical given names associated with the Felstead surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Edward
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Russell
- Stephen
Female
- Donna
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jane
- Julie
- Katie
- Louise
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sa
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Felstead in...
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Morse
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There are approximately 1,718 people named Felstead in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,773rd most common surname in Britain. Around 26 in a million people in Britain are named Felstead.
Famous people named Felstead
- Thomas Felstead - Football player (1887 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.