Show ContentsSpurge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Spurge family

The surname Spurge was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat. The name is anciently found in that county as Spirigin, of unknown origin, but if not Saxon, then it may be Viking, or may possibly be associated with the Danegeld.

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Sprigin.' There can be little doubt about this. It is evidently an old and long-forgotten Scandinavian personal name. Norfolk is the home. It occurs there so early as 1273. The spelling of the surname is imitative, a copy of surgeon." 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: William Sprigin, Norfolk; and Simon Sprugin, Cambridgeshire. 1

"The name of Spurgeon may be a corruption of Spigurnel, the name of an ancient family owning the manor of Stondon, Essex, in the 13th and 14th centuries (W.). Spygurnel and Spigurnel were Norfolk names in the 13th century, and Spugin occurred in Cambridgeshire at the same period (H. R.). According to Camden, a "spigurnel" was a sealer of writs, an office hereditary for a time to the Bohuns of Midhurst, Sussex. John Spurgeon was mayor of Yarmouth in 1698, and in 1762 Mr. Spurgion lived at Anmere in the same county of Norfolk (Blomefield's "Norfolk")." 2

Early History of the Spurge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spurge research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1566 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Spurge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spurge Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spurgeon, Spurgin, Spurgon, Spugin, Spraging and many more.

Early Notables of the Spurge family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Spurgeon...

Migration of the Spurge family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Although no individual listings of settlers could be found, three families of the name were found in the Boston area in the 19th century.



The Spurge 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 civium ardor
Motto Translation: Not the ardour of the citizens.


Suggested Readings for the name Spurge +

  • The Spurgeon Story By Bee Dee Abbott Spurgeon.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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