Explore the Family Name Hempstead
The meaning of Hempstead
English: habitational name chiefly from Hempstead in Essex or from either of two places called Hempstead in Norfolk. In Kent the surname is from Hempstead in Gillingham, Hemsted in Benenden, or Hemsted in Lyminge (all Kent). It is unclear whether (Hemel) Hempstead in Hertfordshire or Hempstead in Gloucestershire also lie behind the modern surname. The Essex and Kent placenames may derive from Old English henep ‘hemp’ + stede ‘place’, while the Norfolk and Hertfordshire placenames probably come from Old English hām-stede ‘homestead’. The Gloucestershire placename derives from Old English hēah ‘high’ + hām-stede.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hempstead in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Hempstead has seen a slight decrease over a decade. In 2000, the Hempstead name ranked 19,813 in popularity among surnames in the United States but fell to 20,239 by 2010, marking a drop of 2.15%. However, the actual count of people bearing this surname increased from 1,256 in 2000 to 1,315 in 2010, indicating a growth of 4.7%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased slightly from 0.47 in 2000 to 0.45 in 2010, experiencing a -4.26% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,813 | #20,239 | -2.15% |
| Count | 1,256 | 1,315 | 4.7% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.45 | -4.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hempstead
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Hempstead, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows interesting changes between 2000 and 2010. The majority of individuals with this surname identify as White, with an increase from 77.87% in 2000 to 79.09% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Black decreased from 19.59% to 17.03% over that same period. Meanwhile, there was a significant percentage increase in the number of people who identify with two or more races, jumping from 0.88% to 1.75%, and those identifying as Hispanic saw a rise from 1.11% to 1.83%. No recorded individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.87% | 79.09% | 1.57% |
| Black | 19.59% | 17.03% | -13.07% |
| Hispanic | 1.11% | 1.83% | 64.86% |
| Two or More Races | 0.88% | 1.75% | 98.86% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |