Hempstead Family History

English: habitational name from any of various places so called, most of which were originally named with Old English hamstede or h?mstede ‘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 heah + hamstede).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press