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Spellman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Spellman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The roots of the German surname Spellman lie in the kingdom of Bavaria, where the name originated. Spellman is an occupational name, deriving from the Middle High German verb "spillen," meaning "to play, jest, sport." Thus, it is likely that the name was originally borne by an actor or a jester.

Early Origins of the Spellman family

The surname Spellman was first found in the city of Offenburg, in modern Baden-Wuerttemburg, where the name Spielman could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name Spielmann became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in a constantly changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Spellman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spellman research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1626, 1722, 1783, 1786 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Spellman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spellman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spielmann, Spielman, Spellman, Spelmann, Spellmann, Speilman, Speillmann, Spillman, Spillmann, Spilman and many more.

Early Notables of the Spellman family

Prominent among members of the name Spellman in this period include Sir John Spilman (also spelt Spielman) (died 1626) German-born entrepreneur who founded the first commercially successful paper-mill in...
Another 28 words (2 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. 1

Spellman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spellman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Conrad Spellman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
Johan Peter Spellman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2

Spellman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Spellman, who landed in Maryland in 1840 2
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 2
John Spellman, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1854 2
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 3
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 3
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 3
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 3
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 4

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 5
Miss Mary Spellman, (b. 1856), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 5

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 6

Citations +

"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