This interesting surname of English origin is a locational name from Binstead in Wight, or Binsted in Hampshire and Sussex, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "bean-stede" meaning "a place where beans were grown". The placenames are recorded as Benestede in the Domesday Book of 1086. The surname dates back to the late 16th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Binsted, Binstid, etc.. Edith Binsteede married John Stallarde on December 31st 1594, at Northwood, Hampshire. Whilst William Binstead married Alice Collens at Westbourne, Sussex, on June 1st 1662, and Edward Binstead married Susana Tilcock on May 13th 1673, at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, Marylebone Road, London. John Binstid married Mary Lloyd on January 13th 1700, at St. Katherine by the Tower, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elinor Binsted, (christened), which was dated 1584, at Furtington, Sussex, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.