Speelman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Ireland

Speelman is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Speelman family lived in Norfolk where "this surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Spileman.' " 1 However, another source claims the name was derived from "a learned man but more probably either a man who works by spells, or turns, with another, or a worker of spells or charms. " 2 And yet another source claims that the name was for a "preacher or orator; one who entertained by stories, songs, buffoonery or juggling. " 3

Early Origins of the Speelman family

The surname Speelman was first found in Norfolk but by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered throughout ancient Britain: John Speleman, Nottinghamshire; William Spelesman, Wiltshire; and Eustace Spileman, Oxfordshire. "There are nine entries of Spileman in the Hundred Rolls, representing five counties. " 1

Kirby's Quest notes John Speleman and Roger Spileman in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4

Early History of the Speelman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Speelman research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1491, 1495, 1544, 1562, 1581, 1588, 1594, 1598, 1606, 1626, 1641, 1643, 1645, 1648, 1660, 1663 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Speelman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Speelman Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Speelman family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Spelman (1495?-1544), English judge of the King's Bench, born about 1495, was son of Henry Spelman, recorder of Norwich in 1491. "The Spelman family were of ancient descent, being sprung from Hampshire, where in the time of Henry III they held the manor of Brockenhurst; in the fourteenth century they appear to have settled in Norfolk, where they held the manor of Bekerton in the fifteenth century. " 5Sir Henry Spelman (c.1562-1641) was an English antiquary from Congham, Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d. 1581), of Congham, and the...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Speelman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Speelman family to Ireland

Some of the Speelman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Speelman migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Speelman or a variant listed above were:

Speelman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Conrad Speelman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753
John Peter Speelman, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1753
John Speelman, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1777

Speelman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dingeman Speelman, who settled in Indiana in 1846
Grietje Speelman, who settled in America in 1857
Antonie Speelman, who settled in America in 1870

Speelman migration to Australia +

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

Speelman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Africaander Speelman, (b. 1819), aged 17, British groom who was convicted in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Speelman (post 1700) +

Jennifer Speelman Ph.D., American specialist in U.S. military and maritime history
Jonathan Simon Speelman (b. 1956), winner of the British Chess Championship in 1978, 1985 and 1986

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden