Show ContentsSpurlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Spurlin was formed. The name was derived from the baptismal name for the son of Spirling, which was an ancient Old English personal name. After the Norman Conquest, the Old English naming system gradually dissolved. Old English names became less common and were replaced by popular continental European names. The earliest surnames in England were found shortly after the Norman Conquest and are of Norman French rather than native English origins.

Early Origins of the Spurlin family

The surname Spurlin was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say long before the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Spurlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spurlin research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1809 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Spurlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spurlin Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Spurlin include Sparling, Sparlin, Sperling, Spurling, Spearling and others.

Early Notables of the Spurlin family

More information is included under the topic Early Spurlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spurlin Ranking

In the United States, the name Spurlin is the 10,155th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Spurlin family to Ireland

Some of the Spurlin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Spurlin migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Spurlin were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Spurlin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Catherine Spurlin, aged 29, arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 2
  • Robert L. Spurlin, aged 46, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Everglades" from Matanzas, Cuba 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Spurlin (post 1700) +

  • Dean Spurlin, American actor, known for Roy 'n' the Rev (2003)
  • W. Paul Spurlin, American Assistant Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University, Meridian
  • Mary Jane Spurlin (1883-1970), American jurist, Oregon's first woman judge in 1926, President of the Portland Federation of Women's Clubs


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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