Show ContentsSpillane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Spillane is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Spillane family lived in Norfolk where "this surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Spileman.' " [1] However, another source claims the name was derived from "a learned man but more probably either a man who works by spells, or turns, with another, or a worker of spells or charms. " [2] And yet another source claims that the name was for a "preacher or orator; one who entertained by stories, songs, buffoonery or juggling. " [3]

Early Origins of the Spillane family

The surname Spillane was first found in Norfolk but by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered throughout ancient Britain: John Speleman, Nottinghamshire; William Spelesman, Wiltshire; and Eustace Spileman, Oxfordshire. "There are nine entries of Spileman in the Hundred Rolls, representing five counties. " [1]

Kirby's Quest notes John Speleman and Roger Spileman in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) [4]

Early History of the Spillane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spillane research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1491, 1495, 1544, 1562, 1581, 1588, 1594, 1598, 1606, 1626, 1641, 1643, 1645, 1648, 1660, 1663 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Spillane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spillane Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Spillane were recorded, including Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Spillane family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Spelman (1495?-1544), English judge of the King's Bench, born about 1495, was son of Henry Spelman, recorder of Norwich in 1491. "The Spelman family were of ancient descent, being sprung from Hampshire, where in the time of Henry III they held the manor of Brockenhurst; in the fourteenth century they appear to have settled in Norfolk, where they held the manor of Bekerton in the fifteenth century. " [5]Sir Henry Spelman (c.1562-1641) was an English antiquary from Congham, Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d. 1581), of Congham, and the...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spillane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spillane Ranking

In the United States, the name Spillane is the 11,949th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [6]

Ireland Migration of the Spillane family to Ireland

Some of the Spillane family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Spillane migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Spillane arrived in North America very early:

Spillane Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Elizabeth Spillane, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773
Spillane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ellen and Joan Spillane, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1847 and 1849 respectively
  • Daniel Spillane, aged 21, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 [7]
  • Mary Spillane, who settled in New York in 1853

Canada Spillane migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spillane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Peggy Spillane, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • James Spillane, aged 5, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Charity" from Kinsale, Ireland
  • William Spillane, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Maria" from Cork, Ireland
  • Patrick Spillane, aged 40, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charlotte" from Cork, Ireland
  • Michael Spillane, aged 36, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Charlotte" from Cork, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Spillane migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Spillane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Spillane, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "England" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd September 1865 [8]
  • Mr. Thomas Spillane, (b. 1844), aged 26, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd December 1870 [9]
  • John Spillane, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Westland aboard the ship "Jubilee" in 1873
  • Ellen Spillane, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Queen of the North" in 1874
  • Bridget Spillane, aged 18, a housemaid, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Camperdown" in 1876
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spillane (post 1700) +

  • Frank Morrison "Mickey" Spillane (1918-2006), American author of crime novels responsible for seven of the top fifteen all-time best-selling fiction titles in the U.S
  • Johnny Spillane (b. 1980), American Olympic Nordic combined skier
  • Vera L. Spillane, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly 44th District, 1966 [10]
  • Joseph J. Spillane, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Ontario County, 1934, 1935 [10]
  • Janet McGrail Spillane, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1996 [10]
  • Edward W. Spillane, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Albany County 3rd District, 1940, 1942 [10]
  • Tom Spillane (b. 1962), Gaelic footballer from Ireland
  • Pat Spillane (b. 1955), Irish Gaelic footballer
  • Michael Spillane (b. 1989), Irish soccer player
  • Marni Spillane (b. 1987), Australian actress
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

SS Atlantic
  • Mr.John Spillane, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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