Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
STEAD
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
A place enclosed, a station or standing place. Stad, and stede, in Dutch, signifies a town.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
STEAD. A-Sax. stade, a stead, station, or place. Halliw. says, ' a farm house and offices.' A Steadman was therefore a farmer, or perhaps a farm-bailiif.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English