Contents [hide]

Spicer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Spicer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Spicer was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Spicer is for a grocer which was in turn derived from the Old French word espice, of the same meaning. 1 2

"What we now call a grocer, because, inter alia, he deals in figs (grossi), the French call an epicier, or spicer, because he sells spices." 3

Early Origins of the Spicer family

The surname Spicer was first found in Devon where conjecturally the Spicers were under tenants of the Count of Mortain at the time of the Norman Conquest. Benedict le Spicer was listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, at the time of King John. 4

Some of the first entries in early rolls for the family include: William le Espicer in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1184; Bertram le Specier in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire and in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1201; and Hugo le Especer in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridge in 1214. 5

Later, the singular form of the name appeared: William Spice in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1326; and Clement Spice in the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire in 1399. 5

A search of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed: Simon le Spicere, Cambridgeshire; William le Spicere, Oxfordshire; and William Speciar, Lincolnshire. Up in the north of England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 show the name as both a trade name and a surname: Adam Spisar, spicer; and Giliaum Spyser, 1379. 6

Continuing our quest north into Scotland, the name had the same meaning "spicer, dealer in spices," and two early entries, both as a result of the invasion of King Edward I of England: "Rauf le Spicer rendered homage, 1296, and Eustace Lespicer and Martin Lespicer rendered homage at Berwick, 1291." 7

Early History of the Spicer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spicer research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1296, 1743, 1765, 1773, 1774, 1777, 1783, 1792 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Spicer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spicer Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Spicer were recorded, including Spicer, Spicers, Spice and others.

Early Notables of the Spicer family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Henry Spicer (1743?-1804), English miniature-painter, born at Reepham, Norfolk, about 1743, and became a pupil of Gervase Spencer. He worked both on ivory and in enamel, and was one of the ablest mini...
in 1773 he was secretary to the society. He exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy in 1774, and about 1777 went to Dublin, where he resided for some years, and was largely employed. From 17...

Spicer Ranking

In the United States, the name Spicer is the 1,741^st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Spicer family to Ireland

Some of the Spicer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spicer migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Spicer arrived in North America very early:

Spicer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gregory Spicer, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "Tryall/Triall" 9
Henry Spicer, aged 28, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "David" in 1635 9
Edward, William, Richard and Henry Spicer who, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Edward Spicer, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "David" in 1635 9
William Spicer, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spicer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Spicer, who settled in Silly Cove in 1825

Spicer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spicer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Francis Spicer U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 216 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 10
Miss. Mary Spicer U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. Robert Spicer U.E. who settled in Spencer's Island, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 10
Mr. Thomas Spicer U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. William Spicer U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spicer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Spicer, who settled in Greenspond, Newfoundland in 1820 11
Helen Spicer from County Waterford, Ireland settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1825 11

Spicer migration to Australia +

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

Spicer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Spicer, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Joseph Spicer, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. James Spicer, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Mr. Henry Spicer, (b. 1810), aged 21, English ploughman who was convicted in Dorset, England for 7 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eleanor" on 26th June 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1868 15
Mr. John Spicer, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spicer 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:

Spicer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Spicer, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
T Spicer, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1838
Miss Jane Spicer, (b. 1841), aged , British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 17
Mr. Richard Spicer, (b. 1841), aged , British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 17
James Spicer, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spicer migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18

Spicer Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Miss Ann Spicer, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Spicer (post 1700) +

Sean Michael Spicer (b. 1971), American political strategist, 30th White House Press Secretary (2017), Chief Strategist for Republican National Committee (2015-2017)
Kimberly Spicer (b. 1980), American actress and model
Ishmail Spicer (1760-1832), American composer
Gunner's Mate First Class William Spicer (1864-1949), United States Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Spanish-American War
Jack Spicer (1925-1965), American poet
J. M. Spicer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1888 20
Henry Spicer, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Jefferson County 2nd District, 1877 20
George W. Spicer, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Saybrook, 1908 20
George W. Spicer, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ledyard, 1891-94 20
Edward E. Spicer, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Groton, 1905-06, 1911-12; Defeated, 1906; Warden (Borough President) of Groton, Connecticut, 1909 20
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Spicer family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Blanch Spicer (1896-1917), Canadian resident from East Advocate, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 21

HMS Royal Oak

Hugh Hunter Spicer (1920-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 22

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eleanor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html