Olmsted

Olmsted is a surname of English origin, occasionally spelled Olmstead or Olmsted. It is toponymic, likely deriving from a place name in England that combines Old English elements meaning islet or hollow and place. The name has spread to North America with immigrants and is used in several geographic names in the United States.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903) is the best-known bearer of the name. An American landscape architect, he designed Central Park in New York City and helped establish the practice of landscape architecture. His work extended to parks and parkways across the United States, and after his death his firm, Olmsted Brothers, continued the practice with his sons and influenced campus and city landscapes nationwide.

Geographic usage in the United States includes Olmsted County, Minnesota, and Ohio’s Olmsted Township (Cuyahoga County) and Olmsted Falls (a city in Cuyahoga County). These places reflect the common practice of naming towns and counties after prominent citizens or early settlers bearing the Olmsted surname. The name also appears in other localities and institutions named for individuals with the surname.