Contents [hide]

Spring History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Spring History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Spring is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a young or very active individual, which was originally derived from the Old English word spring literally meaning the season spring. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. This nickname surname was used to describe the original bearers character as it related to the young shoots in the ground when they would rise from the earth in the spring.

Early Origins of the Spring family

The surname Spring was first found in Suffolk where they were major landowners in East Anglia seated from very ancient times, as Lords of the manor of Lavenham, the family were important merchants in the cloth and wool trade during the Middle Ages. The Spring or DeFonte family claim descendancy through Norman, Peter, William, Hugh de Fonte in Normandy who were listed there in a census (1180-1195.) The earliest record of the name in England was found c. 1198 when Reginald and Emma de Fonte were listed there at that time. 1 Houghton Le Side in Durham was an ancient family seat. "The vill was a portion of the inheritance of the early lords of Raby, and was granted by Robert Fitz-Mildred to the Springs, of whom Sir John Spring was, in 1312, murdered in his manorhouse here by Robert Lascelles, of Yorkshire." 2 and nearby in Houghton Le Spring more early evidence of the family was found. "This place, which takes its name from a family to whom it belonged soon after the Conquest, is one of the great manors of the see of Durham." 2

Early History of the Spring family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spring research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1311, 1313, 1369, 1390, 1474, 1523, 1547, 1578, 1579, 1597, 1599, 1613, 1637, 1642, 1646, 1648, 1654, 1672, 1674, 1679, 1684, 1697, 1704, 1737, 1740 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Spring History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spring Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Spring have been found, including Spring, Springe, Springs, Springes, Springer and others.

Early Notables of the Spring family

Distinguished members of the family include

Thomas Spring (c.1474-1523), also referred to as Thomas Spring III, and Thomas Spring of Lavenham, an English clothier in Suffolk and one of the richest men in England at the time
Sir John Spring (d. 1547), of Lavenham, Buxhall, Hitcham, and Cockfield, Suffolk, was an English merchant and politician
Sir William Spring of Lavenham (died 1599), an English politician and merchant, High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1578-1579
Sir William Spring of Pakenham or Ridenhall (died 1637) was a wealthy Suffolk politician, High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1597
Sir William Spring, 1st Baronet of Pakenham, Suffolk (1613-1654), MP for Bury St. Edmunds 1646-1648 and Suffolk 1654
Sir William Spring, 2nd Baronet (1642-1684), MP for Suffolk 1679-1684
Sir Thomas Spring, 3rd Baronet (1672-1704), Sir William Spring, 4th Baronet (1697-1737)
Sir John Spring, 5th Baronet (1674-1740)

Spring Ranking

In the United States, the name Spring is the 3,871^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Spring family to Ireland

Some of the Spring 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.

Spring migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Spring, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Spring Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Spring, aged 6, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Watertown. 4
Mrs. Eleanor Spring, (Elinor), aged 46, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Watertown. 4
John Spring, aged 4, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Watertown. 4
John Spring, aged 45, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Watertown. 4
Mary Spring, aged 11, from Suffolk, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", bound for Watertown. 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spring Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mardling Spring, aged 23, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1735 4
Andreas Spring, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 4
Jacob Spring, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1747 4
Nicklas Spring, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 4
Johan Caspar Spring, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spring Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Spring, aged 22, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 4
George Spring, who arrived in New York in 1822 with a child
Alexander T Spring, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 4
Alexander Thompson Spring, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 4
James R Spring, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1849 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spring migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spring Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine Spring, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
Edmund Spring, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland
Catherine Spring, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1837 aboard the barque "Robert Watt" from Cork, Ireland

Spring migration to Australia +

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

Spring Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Spring, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. John Spring, English convict who was convicted in Herefordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. David Spring, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Caroline Spring, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 8

Spring 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:

Spring Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Spring, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1843
Mr. Thomas Spring, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bandicoot" arriving in New Zealand in 1846 9
Mr. Charles Spring, (b. 1835), aged 21, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 19th December 1856 10
Charles Spring, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
William Spring, aged 44, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spring (post 1700) +

Jack Russell Spring (1933-2015), American Major League Baseball relief pitcher
Justin Edward Spring (b. 1984), American bronze medalist gymnast a the 2008 Summer Olympics, son of Sherwood Spring
George Edward Spring (1859-1917), American lawyer and politician, Member of the New York State Senate (1915-1917)
William Big Spring, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1972 11
Colonel (USAF, Ret.) Sherwood Clark "Woody" Spring (b. 1944), former NASA astronaut, recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars and Meritorious Service Medal and other awards 12
H. G. Spring, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1912 13
George E. Spring, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Tazewell County Democratic Party, 1950 13
George E. Spring, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Senate 51st District, 1915-17; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1916 13
Francis L. Spring, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Granby, 1928, 1930 13
E. B. Spring, American politician, Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, 1897-99 13
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Spring family +

Bismarck

Paul Spring (1912-1941), German Funkmaat Res. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Howard Spring (b. 1889), Welsh Journalist from Wales, who sailed on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) prior to its sinking 15

The Spring Motto +

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: Non mihi sed patriae
Motto Translation: Not for myself, but for my country.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILIES 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ramillies.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Sherwood Spring. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/spring-sc.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html