Show ContentsSmayllpece History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Smayllpece family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the name of the great northern family of the Lords of Malpas. The name first became Smalpas and further changed over time.

Early Origins of the Smayllpece family

The surname Smayllpece was first found in Cheshire where the name is believed to be descended from the Lords of Malpas, of the great northern earls.

Early History of the Smayllpece family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smayllpece research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1585 and 1622 are included under the topic Early Smayllpece History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smayllpece Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Smallpas, Smalepais, Smallpage, Smallpiece, Smallpeice, Smallpece, Smallpace and many more.

Early Notables of the Smayllpece family

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

Migration of the Smayllpece family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Smayllpece or a variant listed above: Lawrence Smallpage, who settled in Virginia in 1623; Richard Smallpass, a bonded passenger, who came to America in 1750; John Smallpiece, who came to Maryland in 1671.



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