The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change, including many immigrants with new names. Among these were the ancestors of the Smaylpiece family, whose name comes from the name of the great northern family of the Lords of Malpas. The name first became Smalpas and further changed over time.
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Early Origins of the Smaylpiece family
The surname Smaylpiece was first found in Cheshire where the name is believed to be descended from the Lords of Malpas, of the great northern earls.
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Early History of the Smaylpiece family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smaylpiece research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1585 and 1622 are included under the topic Early Smaylpiece History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Smaylpiece 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.
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Early Notables of the Smaylpiece family
More information is included under the topic Early Smaylpiece Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Smaylpiece 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 Smaylpiece 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.
England
