Show ContentsSpaid History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Spaid family

The surname Spaid was first found in Suffolk where in 1185, Godfrey Speed appeared on the Pipe Rolls. 1 Years later, Johannes Sped was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Suffolk. The same rolls also listed Margaret Sped in Cambridgeshire: and Roger Sped in Oxfordshire. 2

The name could have claimed Normandy as the starting point as one source notes that the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Ivo de Spada there in 1185. 3

Other sources claim that it was a nickname as a "reference to the swiftness of the original bearers." 4 And yet another claims the name was "a font-name, wishing prosperity or good-speed to the child." 2

Further to the north in Scotland, Nicholas Speid occupied part of the lands of Cuikstone or Quygstone in Angus, 1410 and Cuthbert Speid was witness in Forfar in the same year. 5

Early History of the Spaid family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spaid research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1277, 1551, 1555, 1556, 1578, 1595, 1598, 1629, 1631, 1650, 1682 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Spaid History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spaid Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Speed, Spede, Speyde, Speede, Speid and others.

Early Notables of the Spaid family

Distinguished members of the family include John Speed (c. 1551-1629), an English cartographer and historian, best known English mapmaker of the Stuart period. Born in Farndon, Cheshire, he went into the tailoring business of his father, Samuel. While working in London, he came to the attention of learned individuals who gave him an allowance to engage in full-time scholarship. Queen Elizabeth granted Speed the use of a room in the Custom House. By 1595, Speed published a map of biblical Canaan and in 1598 he presented his maps to Queen Elizabeth."Mr. Joseph Speed of...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spaid Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Spaid migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spaid Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ana Spaid, aged 43, who arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Lafayette" from Le Havre, France 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Spaid (post 1700) +

  • William Spaid (1904-1971), American Democratic Party politician, Speaker of the Arizona State House of Representatives, 1940 7
  • Eva M. Spaid, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1972 7


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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