Find out how popular the last name Stead is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Stead.

Stead, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Stead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stead in America

Stead is the 11257th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stead surname appeared 2,808 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Stead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stead to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Stead

The surname Stead originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Old English words "stede" and "stydd," which referred to a place or location. It was initially used as a topographic name, given to individuals who lived near a prominent landmark or geographical feature, such as a farm, village, or homestead.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Stede," indicating that it was derived from a place name. This entry suggests that the surname was already well-established by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was commonly spelled as "Stede" or "Sted," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. It was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where many of the earliest recorded bearers of the name resided.

Notable individuals with the surname Stead include Geoffrey Stead (1497-1573), a prominent English merchant and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of York in 1557. Another noteworthy figure was Christopher Stead (1701-1786), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital.

In the literary world, William Thomas Stead (1849-1912) was a pioneering English journalist and editor who played a significant role in the development of investigative journalism. He is best remembered for his exposé of child prostitution in London, which led to the raising of the age of consent.

The name Stead has also been associated with places such as Stead in Lincolnshire and Stead in Lancashire, both of which likely contributed to the surname's origins and spread.

Other notable individuals with the surname Stead include Sir Richard Stead (1869-1943), a British businessman and philanthropist, and Christina Stead (1902-1983), an Australian novelist and writer known for her works exploring social and political themes.

Throughout its history, the surname Stead has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries where its bearers have migrated and settled over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stead

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Stead.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Stead was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Stead has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Stead was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Stead, please contact us.

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