Spense History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Spense

What does the name Spense mean?

The Spense surname derives from the Old French word "despense," from the Latin "dispendere" meaning "to dispense;" as such, it is thought to have been an metonymic occupational surname for someone in charge of the pantry of a great house or monastery. The Middle English word "spense" means "larder" or "storeroom."

Early Origins of the Spense family

The surname Spense was first found in Yorkshire, where Simon del Spens (or de la Despense) was on record in 1300, in the Charters of Guisburn Priory, Yorkshire. Other early records include Amice ate Spense, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Essex of 1327; and William atte Spence listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in that same year.

Early History of the Spense family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spense research. Another 243 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1320, 1358, 1365, 1385, 1390, 1426, 1428 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Spense History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spense Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spence, Spens, Spense, Spenceley, Spencley and many more.

Early Notables of the Spense family

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

Migration of the Spense family to Ireland

Some of the Spense family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spense migration to the United States +

Spense Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Spense, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 1

Sources +

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)