Family name origins & meanings
- English : habitational name from any of various places so called, most of which were originally named with Old English hāmstede or hǣmstede ‘homestead’. One Hempstead in Norfolk derives its name from Old English hænep ‘hemp’ + stede ‘place’, while Hempsted in Gloucestershire was originally ‘high homestead’ (Old English hēah + hāmstede).