Sprung History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Sprung is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is 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 Sprung family

The surname Sprung 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 Sprung family

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

Sprung Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Sprung has been recorded under many different variations, including Spring, Springe, Springs, Springes, Springer and others.

Early Notables of the Sprung 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 Sprung Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sprung family to Ireland

Some of the Sprung 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.

Sprung migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Sprung or a variant listed above:

Sprung Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Sprung, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 3

Sprung migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sprung Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Sprung, who landed in Quebec in 1784

Contemporary Notables of the name Sprung (post 1700) +

Roger Sprung (b. 1930), American banjo player and teacher
Julian Sprung (b. 1966), American writer on marine aquarium fishkeeping
Peter Sprung (b. 1979), German footballer

The Sprung 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.
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)