NameCensus.

UK surname

Halstead

A locational surname referring to any of several places in England meaning "safe place" or "healthy place."

In the 1881 census there were 2,494 people recorded with the Halstead surname, ranking it #1,789 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,373, ranked #2,762, down from #1,789 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Huddersfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Pendle and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halstead is 3,233 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.9%.

1881 census count

2,494

Ranked #1,789

Modern count

2,373

2016, ranked #2,762

Peak year

1911

3,233 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halstead had 2,494 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,789 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,373 in 2016, ranked #2,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,233 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Halstead surname distribution map

The map shows where the Halstead surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Halstead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halstead over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,344 #2,144
1861 historical 1,782 #1,629
1881 historical 2,494 #1,789
1891 historical 2,709 #1,750
1901 historical 2,969 #1,885
1911 historical 3,233 #1,610
1997 modern 2,363 #2,642
1998 modern 2,439 #2,665
1999 modern 2,459 #2,671
2000 modern 2,450 #2,667
2001 modern 2,402 #2,656
2002 modern 2,472 #2,646
2003 modern 2,443 #2,616
2004 modern 2,396 #2,662
2005 modern 2,369 #2,654
2006 modern 2,321 #2,704
2007 modern 2,338 #2,712
2008 modern 2,352 #2,722
2009 modern 2,405 #2,725
2010 modern 2,442 #2,745
2011 modern 2,413 #2,747
2012 modern 2,352 #2,759
2013 modern 2,380 #2,772
2014 modern 2,378 #2,788
2015 modern 2,372 #2,771
2016 modern 2,373 #2,762

Geography

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Where Halsteads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Huddersfield and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Pendle and Burnley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
2 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
3 Pendle 008 Pendle
4 Rossendale 004 Rossendale
5 Burnley 001 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halstead

These lists show first names that appear often with the Halstead surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halstead

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Halstead, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Halstead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Halstead household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Halstead is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Halstead is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Halstead falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Halstead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Halstead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Halstead

The surname Halstead is of English origin, derived from the Old English words 'halh' meaning a nook or remote valley, and 'stede' meaning a place or homestead. It refers to someone who lived in a remote valley or secluded place.

One of the earliest recorded spellings of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Halestede'. This entry refers to a place in Essex, suggesting that the name may have originated in that county.

In the 13th century, records show various spellings of the name, including 'Halstede', 'Halghstede', and 'Halstede'. These variations reflect the changes in pronunciation and spelling over time.

The name is also closely associated with several places in England, such as Halstead in Essex, Halstead in Kent, and Halstead in Leicestershire. These place names likely influenced the adoption of the surname by families living in those areas.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Halstead was John de Halstead, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1230. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Halstead, a 14th-century knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with Richard Halstead (c. 1515-1580), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary I. His grandson, Nathaniel Halstead (1593-1670), was a prominent Puritan minister in England.

Other notable individuals with the Halstead surname include William Halstead (1852-1922), an American surgeon and pioneer in the field of anesthesia and surgical techniques, and Murat Halstead (1829-1908), an American journalist and editor of the Cincinnati Commercial.

The surname Halstead has also been carried by several notable figures in literature and the arts, such as Winifred Halstead Cousins (1877-1949), an American author and playwright, and Charles Halstead (1867-1955), an English painter and illustrator.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halstead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halstead surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 1,143 Halsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,143 3.96x
Yorkshire 1,101 4.57x
Middlesex 56 0.23x
Cumberland 26 1.24x
Cheshire 24 0.45x
Kent 21 0.25x
Surrey 21 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.37x
Sussex 12 0.29x
Essex 11 0.23x
Durham 9 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.52x
Lincolnshire 8 0.21x
Hampshire 6 0.12x
Lanarkshire 6 0.08x
Derbyshire 5 0.13x
Berkshire 4 0.22x
Herefordshire 4 0.40x
Leicestershire 4 0.15x
Devon 2 0.04x
Somerset 2 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Denbighshire 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 0.56x
Westmorland 1 0.19x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 118 Halsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.58x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 118 48.58x
Huddersfield 106 30.20x
Newchurch 97 41.11x
Great Little Marsden 82 62.06x
Haslingden 70 58.61x
Stansfield 67 75.59x
Spotland 66 20.58x
Barrowford Booth 57 178.57x
Thornhill 57 81.09x
Halifax 54 15.27x
Todmorden Walsden 53 68.58x
Habergham Eaves 49 18.59x
Leeds 49 3.60x
Bury 46 13.96x
Elland Cum Greetland 45 41.47x
Bingley 44 28.68x
Blackburn 44 5.73x
Briercliffe Cum 36 376.57x
Langfield 36 85.41x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 36 59.25x
Northowram 35 20.72x
Accrington 33 12.58x
Dewsbury 27 10.93x
Sowerby In Halifax 27 34.28x
Higher Booths 26 50.00x
Keighley 26 10.13x
Horton In Bradford 24 6.38x
Skircoat 22 23.16x
Bradford 21 3.60x
Castleton 20 6.94x
Colne 20 23.27x
Gomersal 20 17.79x
Bentham 19 103.49x
Dalton In Huddersfield 19 35.21x
Almondbury 18 15.45x
Heptonstall 17 50.30x
Oldham 17 1.83x
Soyland 17 58.82x
Trawden 17 94.18x
Caldewgate 16 13.95x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 16 18.59x
Dukinfield 15 6.05x
Manchester 14 1.08x
Cleckheaton 12 13.52x
Great Harwood 12 23.02x
Hapton 12 66.56x
Soothill 12 13.79x
Clitheroe 11 12.96x
Manningham 11 3.71x
Oswaldtwistle 11 10.79x
Salford 11 1.30x
Batley 10 4.37x
Bow London 10 3.23x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 10 190.84x
Gorton 10 3.69x
Mirfield 10 7.56x
Pilkington 10 9.13x
Shelf 10 43.46x
Southowram 10 13.60x
Tong 10 21.49x
Tottington Lower End 10 7.30x
Wardleworth 10 6.07x
Wuerdle Wardle 10 11.42x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 9 29.20x
Eccleshill 9 15.35x
Kirkburton 9 31.69x
Lockwood 9 10.39x
Longwood 9 23.18x
Newark Upon Trent 9 7.64x
Holbeck 8 5.01x
Kirkdale 8 1.65x
Rochdale 8 38.02x
Wisbech St Peter 8 10.36x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.13x
Doncaster 7 3.98x
Droylsden 7 7.44x
Hackney London 7 0.51x
Meltham 7 18.69x
Preston 7 0.91x
Stainland Cum Old 7 16.98x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Halstead surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 192
Sarah 133
Elizabeth 99
Ellen 56
Jane 48
Alice 46
Ann 46
Hannah 46
Annie 40
Martha 39
Emma 37
Margaret 30
Eliza 23
Emily 19
Ada 18
Betty 16
Nancy 15
Edith 13
Clara 12
Harriet 11
Isabella 11
Louisa 11
Maria 11
Grace 10
Ruth 10
Florence 9
Susannah 9
Fanny 8
Rebecca 8
Betsy 7
Frances 7
Rachel 7
Eleanor 6
Lydia 6
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Lucy 5
Matilda 5
Selina 5
Agnes 4
Bertha 4
Caroline 4
Harriett 4
Janet 4
Lavinia 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Susanah 4
Charlotte 3
Maud 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Halstead surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 165
James 112
William 107
George 60
Thomas 59
Robert 55
Henry 45
Joseph 41
Richard 34
Arthur 27
Alfred 22
Walter 22
Harry 20
Albert 19
Charles 19
David 18
Edward 14
Frank 14
Fred 14
Samuel 14
Herbert 12
Tom 11
Wm. 10
Ernest 9
Isaac 9
Benjamin 8
Edwin 8
Frederick 7
Hartley 7
Daniel 6
Joe 6
Abraham 5
Edmund 5
Willie 5
Bannister 4
Geo. 4
Lawrence 4
Sam 4
Allen 3
Amos 3
Barker 3
Hiram 3
Jno. 3
Lewis 3
Lord 3
Stephen 3
Sutcliffe 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Wright 3

FAQ

Halstead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halstead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,494 people were recorded with the Halstead surname. That placed it at #1,789 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halstead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,373 in 2016. That gives Halstead a modern rank of #2,762.

What does the Halstead surname mean?

A locational surname referring to any of several places in England meaning "safe place" or "healthy place."

What does the Halstead map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Halstead bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.