Surname Highsted - Meaning and Origin

Highsted: What does the surname Highsted mean?

The last name Highsted is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to have originally been derived from a nickname. It is thought to have been given to a person who lived near a prominent hill or high place, such as a hillside or a noteworthy geographical feature.

The prefix "high" is derived from Old English and Anglo-Saxon words meaning a "ridge" or a "raised area" of varying sizes. The suffix "sted" has a similar meaning and also derives from Old English and Anglo-Saxon, meaning an "area, a dwelling place or a site".

Highsted could have been a descriptive nickname given to someone who lived in a high location, or it could have been a location name taken on by a family who lived there.

Highsted has since been used as a surname in many English speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname Highsted may have been changed slightly. People with this surname may be found with variants such as Highstead, Highstad, Hight, and Hysted.

Highsted: Where does the name Highsted come from?

The last name Highsted is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. According to the forebears website, it is the 15,341st most common surname in the UK with 1,568 people bearing the name in Great Britain during their last census.

Highsted is thought to have been derived from an Old English name (Englisc Hígstede) which means High Place or High Home. The Old English element hiġ (high) was used to describe a hill, and the suffix stede (place, home) was added to form a place-name. Early records of the surname are found in the spellings Hysted, Highested, and Highesteed, and in the 16th century, the variants Heste and Hysted were common.

Distribution maps show that people bearing the name Highsted are mostly found today living in the south-east of England. A large population resides in the London boroughs and across East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and even a few families in Berkshire. In the majority of these areas, the number of people with this surname is relatively low, so this surname is thought to be relatively rare.

Highsted is undoubtedly an old English name and battles the test of time in part of the world today.

Variations of the surname Highsted

The surname Highsted is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name with multiple spelling variations, variants and surnames of the same origin. Highsted is mainly derived from a personal name with the spelling of ‘Heghsted’ from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name ‘Heahstede’ which was composed of two elements. The first element was ‘heah’, meaning ‘high’ or ‘proud’ and the second element was ‘stede’, which means homestead or dwelling place. Thus, the meaning of the name as a whole concerned a person of high rank, position or social standing and one who resided on a high place. Variations of the surname Highsted include the following:

Heghsted, Heghstede, Heahsted, Heahstede, Hehsted, Hehstede, Hayhsted, Hayhstede, Heyhsted, Hoyhsted, Hoyhstede, Heighted, Heightede, Heighed, Heighted and Heichet.

Some derived surnames of the same origin include Heatwol, Heatwold, Highpole, Hegg, Heygge and Higg, whilst other related Anglo-Saxon surnames of general origin include Highett, Hight and Hyatt, amongst many others.

The surname Highsted is unique and has far-reaching roots in Anglo-Saxon and Old English history, which provides a vivid story and a sense of identity that can be shared and passed down through generations.

Famous people with the name Highsted

• Tom Highsted: A musician and music producer from South Wales, he began his career in the British music industry after joining the rap group Goldie Lookin Chain in 2000.
• Mark Highsted: Mark is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker based in the UK, known for his unique brand of cinematic imagery and compelling story-telling.
• Danny Highsted: Danny is a professional BMX and mountain bike rider based in the UK. He is a multi-time British Champion at both disciplines.
• Edward Highsted: Edward is a business magnate and entrepreneur based in London. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of the Highsted Group, an international conglomerate that specialises in real estate investments.
• Francis Highsted: Francis is an actor, writer and director who was born and raised in the UK. He is best known for his roles in television series such as A Christmas Prince and Cold Justice.
• Stacey Highsted: Stacey is a multi-award winning actress who has appeared in many Hollywood films such as The Dark Knight and Terminator 2. She is also an advocate for social justice causes, including the #MeToo movement.
• Julie Highsted: Julie is a renowned painter and sculptor from the UK. She is best known for her abstract installations, which have been exhibited in galleries around the world.
• Matthew Highsted: Matthew is a popular rock musician from Australia. He is the frontman of the band The Highstedians and is widely considered to be one of Australia’s most influential songwriters.

Other surnames

Highstead