Armistead

Armistead is an English surname of topographic origin, referring to a person who lived near a hermitage. It derives from Middle English ermite (hermit) and stede (place), thus meaning "hermitage."

History and Notable Bearers

The surname Armistead is recorded in England from the 13th century, with early spellings including Ermistead and Armystead. Migrants carried the name to the American colonies, where it became particularly associated with Virginia and other southern states.

Notable bearers include George Armistead (1780–1818), the American military officer who commanded Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812—events that inspired Francis Scott Key's The Star-Spangled Banner. Another prominent figure was Lewis Addison Armistead (1817–1863), a Confederate brigadier general who died during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. James Armistead (1748–c. 1830) was an African American slave who served as a spy for the Continental Army in the American Revolution, later gaining his freedom through the efforts of the Marquis de Lafayette.

In Britain, Wilson Armistead (1819–1868) was a merchant and anti-slavery abolitionist who compiled works on the history of slavery. The name also appears among politicians, such as Bill Armistead (born 1944), an American politician from Alabama.

Though primarily a surname, Armistead has also been used as a masculine given name. Examples include Armistead Abraham Lilly (1878–1956), an American lawyer and politician, and Armistead I. Selden Jr. (1921–1985), a U.S. Representative from Alabama.

Related Names

The name has variant spellings such as Armistice and Armes, though the latter may also have other origins. The root element stede appears in other place names and surnames like Stead.

• Meaning: "hermitage"
• Origin: English, from Middle English ermite stede
• Type: Topographic surname
• Regions: United Kingdom, United States