| ![Show Contents]() Spight History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Spight familyThe surname Spight was first found in Yorkshire where William Speyt was recorded in 1297. A few years later William Speght was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 in Cumberland (Cumbria). John Speht was recorded at Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1315. 1 The name is derived from the Old English words *speoht, *speht, from the Middle English word speight meaning 'wood-pecker'. 1 2 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Matilda Speght; Hugo Speght; and Johanna Spite. 3 Early History of the Spight familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spight research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1600 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Spight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Spight Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Spaight, Speight, Speaight, Spait, Spate and others. Early Notables of the Spight familyAnother 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spight Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Spight family to Ireland
Some of the Spight family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 120 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Spight migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Spight Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Fra Spight, aged 21, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 4
- Edw Spight, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Spight (post 1700) | + |
- Thomas Spight (1841-1924), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Mississippi 2nd District, 1898-1911 5
- Lindsey Spight, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for California, 1960 5
- Lilia Spight, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1996 5
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Vi et virtute
Motto Translation: By strength and valour.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Spight migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
