Spelman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Spelman is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Spelman 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 Spelman family

The surname Spelman 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 Spelman family

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

Spelman Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Spelman family name include Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Spelman 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...
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 grandson of Sir John Spelman (1495-1544). He was noted fo...
Sir John Spelman (1594-1643), was a Royalist and author, the eldest son and heir of Sir Henry Spelman. Clement Spelman was his youngest brother
Clement Spelman (1598-1679), was Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer, the fourth and youngest son of Sir Henry Spelman. Sir John Spelman (1594-1643) was his eldest brother
John Spelman (1606-1663), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1645 to 1648 and later in 1660

Migration of the Spelman family to Ireland

Some of the Spelman 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.

Spelman migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Spelman family to immigrate North America:

Spelman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Spelman, who arrived in Virginia in 1613 5
Thomas Spelman, who arrived in Virginia in 1627 5

Spelman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

D Spelman, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 5

Spelman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spelman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Spelman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Spelman (post 1700) +

Dame Caroline Spelman DBE (b. 1958), née Cormack, British politician, Second Church Estates Commissioner (2015-), Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2010-2012), Chairman of the Conservative Party (2007-2009)
Edward Spelman (d. 1767), (or Yallop) English author and translator, the son of Charles Yallop of Bowthorp Hall, Norfolk
Sir Cornelius Spelman, British peer from the Isle of Wight
Laurance Spelman Rockefeller (1910-2004), American philanthropist, businessman, financier, and major conservationist, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

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.
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)