Spikes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Spikes is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Norman given name Espec.

Early Origins of the Spikes family

The surname Spikes was first found in Lancashire where a Norman noble Le Espec was an under tenant of Roger de Poitou, and was granted the lands of Speke outside Liverpool in Lancashire. Soon after the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a descendant, Richard Le Espec acquired the manors of Wenworthy and Brampton Speke in the county of Devon, 1 which he held from Robert Fitzroy of Oakhampton. His descendent, William Le Espec married and acquired the estates of Gervois.

Walter Espec (d. 1153), was founder of Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire, and was probably the son of William Spech, who in 1085 held Warden, Bedfordshire, where some fifty years later Walter Espec founded and endowed an Abbey. "Espec's chief property was in Yorkshire, and he resided at Helmsley. Under Henry I he was Justice of the Forests and Itinerant Justice in the northern counties. Under Stephen he actively resisted the Scotch invasion. On 10 Jan. 1138 FitzDuncan failed in a night attack on Espec's castle of Wark. Then King David and his son Henry came up and formed a regular siege for three weeks, after which the main body passed on to Harry Northumberland. Three months later (c. 8 May) the garrison swooped down upon the Scotch king's commissariat, and had to submit to a second siege. The castle was stoutly defended by Walter's nephew, John de Bussey, but had to surrender about 11 Nov. " 2

Early History of the Spikes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spikes research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1653, 1661, 1675, 1681 and 1683 are included under the topic Early Spikes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spikes Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Spikes family name include Speak, Speck, Speake, Speke and others.

Early Notables of the Spikes family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Speke of Whitelackington; and Sir Hugh Speke, 1st Baronet of Hasilbury, Wiltshire (died 1661), an English politician who sat...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spikes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spikes Ranking

In the United States, the name Spikes is the 5,763^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Spikes migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Spikes family to immigrate North America:

Spikes Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Spikes, aged 32, who immigrated to Detroit, Mich., in 1911

Spikes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Spikes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Spikes, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Spikes (post 1700) +

Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes (1936-2015), American mathematician and academic, President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, from 1997 to 2001
John Curry Spikes (1881-1955), American jazz musician and entrepreneur
Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes (1888-1982), American jazz saxophonist and entrepreneur

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809