Contents [hide]

Springer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Springer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the name Springer begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a 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 Springer family

The surname Springer 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 Springer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Springer 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 Springer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Springer Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Springer are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Springer include: Spring, Springe, Springs, Springes, Springer and others.

Early Notables of the Springer 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...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Springer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Springer Ranking

In the United States, the name Springer is the 1,070^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Springer family to Ireland

Some of the Springer 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.

Springer migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Springer or a variant listed above:

Springer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Herbert Springer, who landed in Virginia in 1662 4
Daniel Springer, who landed in Maryland in 1666 4
George Springer, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 4
Carl Springer, who landed in Delaware in 1693 4
Carl Christ Springer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1693 4

Springer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Springer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 4
Jacp Springer, aged 32, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 4
Philip Springer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 4
Peter Springer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
Hans Geo Springer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Springer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John George Springer, aged 23, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1838 4
Catherine Springer, aged 37, who arrived in America in 1839 4
August Springer, who landed in America in 1849 4
David Springer, who arrived in Illinois in 1849 4
John Springer, aged 29, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Springer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alois Springer, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Cardiff, Wales, in 1904
Edward Springer, aged 24, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1904
Emile Springer, aged 19, who landed in America from London, in 1906
Charles Springer, aged 33, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
Emil Springer, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from Peterdorf, Austria, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Springer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Springer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Charles C. Springer U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 5
Mr. David Springer U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 5
Mr. William Springer U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 5
Mr. Richard Springer U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Butlers Rangers, who arrived with a wife and 5 children 5

Springer Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Antonetta Springer, aged 50, who immigrated to Edmonton, Canada, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Springer (post 1700) +

Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer (1944-2023), English-born American television presenter, host of the Jerrry Springer Show (1991-2018) which at one time reached more than 6.7 million viewers.
Steven Springer (b. 1951), American guitarist and songwriter
Richard Samuel "Dick" Springer (1948-2023), American lawyer and politician, Member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1981-1989)
Robert Dale Springer (1933-2021), American lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as vice commander in chief, Military Airlift Command from 1987 to 1988 and inspector general of the Air Force from 1985 to 1987
Nicholas Springer (1985-2021), American Paralympic wheelchair rugby player and a four-time national champion
George Springer (1924-2019), American mathematician and computer scientist, professor emeritus of computer science at Indiana University Bloomington
Joe Springer (b. 1916), American jazz pianist
Mary Ann Springer (b. 1991), American actress
Paul J. Springer (b. 1975), American author, professor, and military historian
William McKendree Springer (1836-1903), United States Representative from Illinois
... (Another 62 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Springer family +

Bismarck

Rudolf Springer (1918-1941), German Bootsmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

USS Arizona

Mr. Charles Harold Springer, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7

The Springer 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)
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
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html