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Sparks History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sparks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Sparks was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name Sparrowhawk, and in " 'the son of Sparrowhawk'; found as early as Domesday [Book] in the forms Sperhauoc (Nottinghamshire) [and] Sparhauoc (Suffolk.)" 1 The name could have been a nickname as in 'the sparrow - hawk,' having derived from the Middle English word "sperhauke." Another source notes the name could have been derived from the Old Norse words "sparkr" or "sproek" which meant "lively, sprightly." 2

Early Origins of the Sparks family

The surname Sparks was first found in Lincolnshire where William Sperc was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1202. A few years later, Ralph Sparke was listed in Suffolk in 1221. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Sparhcuk Sutor in Suffolk; Thomas Sperheuk in Lincolnshire; and Nicholas Sparke in Norfolk. 1 John Sparhauk was rector of St Buttolph the Abbot, Norwich in 1351 and Kirby's Quest listed Gilbert Sperhauk in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 3

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Magota Spark and Robertus Spark as both living there at that time. 1

Early History of the Sparks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sparks research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1407, 1548, 1554, 1566, 1574, 1583, 1584, 1591, 1603, 1604, 1613, 1616, 1628, 1629, 1636, 1640, 1660, 1677, 1680, 1683, 1692, 1698 and 1740 are included under the topic Early Sparks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sparks Spelling Variations

Sparks has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Sparks have been found, including Sparke, Spark, Sparkes, Sparks and others.

Early Notables of the Sparks family

Notables of the family at this time include John Sparke (died 1566), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle in 1554; John Sparke (d.1603) of Plymouth, Devon, Mayor of Plymouth in 1583 and 1591; and his son, John Sparke (c. 1574-1640), an English politician from The Friary, in the parish of St Jude, Plymouth, Devon, who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629; and his grandson, John Sparke (1636-1680) an English landowner and...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sparks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sparks Ranking

In the United States, the name Sparks is the 464^th most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 4

Sparks migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Sparkss to arrive on North American shores:

Sparks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Sparks, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 5
Jon Sparks, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 5
Edward Sparks, (Spurkes), aged 22, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase" 5
James Sparks, aged 57, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 5
Thomas Sparks, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sparks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Sparks, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 5
Femerton Sparks, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 5

Sparks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Sparks, who arrived in America in 1801-1802 5
Eliza Sparks, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 5
Alexander Sparks, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 5
William F Sparks, who landed in Texas in 1835 5
J Sparks, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sparks migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sparks Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Richard Sparks, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Richard Sparks, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Sarah Sparks, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ambrose Sparks, who settled in Brigus, Newfoundland in 1764 6

Sparks migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sparks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Honoria Sparks, (b. 1782), aged 27, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1839 7
Mr. Samuel Sparks, (b. 1802), aged 31, English boiler maker who was convicted in Portman Square (Portman Street Barracks), London, England for 7 years for desertion from the army, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
George Sparks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 9
Henry Richard Sparks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 10
Hannah Sparks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sparks migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sparks Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Amos Sparks, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Arab
Amos Sparks, aged 25, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Elizabeth Sparks, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Jordan Sparks, aged 28, a painter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
Mary Ann Sparks, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Birman" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sparks (post 1700) +

Dana Sparks (b. 1961), American television actress, known for her roles in Falcon Crest (1981), That's Life! (1986) and Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike (2012)
William Olin Sparks, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Towns County, 1943-46 11
William K. Sparks, American Republican politician, Candidate for Kentucky State House of Representatives 46th District, 1973 11
William E. Sparks, American politician, Member of Ohio State Senate 3rd District, 1894-97 11
William Andrew Jackson Sparks (1828-1904), American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Illinois, 1856Member of Illinois State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Illinois 16th District, 1875-83 11
William Sparks, American politician, Mayor of Jackson, Michigan, 1915-19 11
William A. Sparks (b. 1849), American politician, U.S. Consul in Venice, 1845-49 11
Walter S. Sparks, American Republican politician, Supervisor of Oshtemo Township, Michigan; Elected 1901, 1902 12
Timothy J. Sparks, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alaska, 2008 13
Thomas E. Sparks (1911-2001), American politician, Member of Arkansas State House of Representatives, 1967-78 14
... (Another 71 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sparks family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. J Sparks, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EDEN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Eden.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL ADMIRAL 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838RoyalAdmiral.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) William Sparks. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) Walter Sparks. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) Timothy Sparks. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2017, April 12) Thomas Sparks. Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html