Contents [hide]

Spellman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Spellman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Spellman was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Spellman 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 Spellman family

The surname Spellman 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 Spellman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spellman 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 Spellman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spellman Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Spellman has been recorded under many different variations, including Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Spellman 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. " 5Sir 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 Spellman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spellman Ranking

In the United States, the name Spellman is the 3,846^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Spellman family to Ireland

Some of the Spellman 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.

Spellman migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Spellmans were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Spellman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Conrad Spellman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 7
Johan Peter Spellman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 7

Spellman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Spellman, who landed in Maryland in 1840 7
James, John, Michael, and Robert Spellman who all, who settled in Philadelphia between 1844 to 1851
Mary Spellman, aged 19, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 7
John Spellman, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1854 7
Gadalia Spellman, who settled in San Francisco in 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spellman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spellman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Mary Spellman, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Greenock" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 8
Mrs. Mary Spellman, aged 34 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Odessa" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 8
Mr. Patrick Spellman, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 8
Mr. William Spellman, aged 18 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 8
Miss. Bridget Spellman, aged 13 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board 9

Spellman 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:

Spellman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Bernard Spellman, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1879
Catherine Spellman, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1879
Mr. Thomas Spellman, (b. 1858), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 10
Miss Mary Spellman, (b. 1856), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Spellman (post 1700) +

Alfred B. Spellman (b. 1935), American poet, music critic, music historian, arts administrator, and author
John Dennis Spellman (1926-2018), American politician, 18th Governor of Washington (1981-1985), 1st King County Executive (1969-1981)
Frank Isaac Spellman (1922-2017), American two-time gold medalist weightlifter at the 1948 Olympic Games and then the 1950 Maccabiah Games
Jim Spellman (b. 1968), American journalist and musician
John Franklin "Jack" Spellman (b. 1899), American NFL football offensive lineman from Middletown, Connecticut
Alyssa Spellman, American model, Miss New Hampshire 2004
Michael Spellman (b. 1978), American film, television and stage actor, known for his work on Seven Pounds (2008) and Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Leora Spellman (1890-1945), born Leora Theresa Spellmyer, an American vaudeville performer and stage and film actor
Benny Spellman (1931-2011), American rhythm and blues singer, best known for his 1962 hit "Lipstick Traces"
Alonzo Robert Spellman (b. 1971), former American NFL football defensive lineman
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Spellman family +

HMS Royal Oak

Dennis Brian Thomas Spellman (1920-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 11

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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.
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/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 56)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 96)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html