Spiess History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Spiess is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a grocer which was in turn derived from the Old French word espice, of the same meaning. 1 2

"What we now call a grocer, because, inter alia, he deals in figs (grossi), the French call an epicier, or spicer, because he sells spices." 3

Early Origins of the Spiess family

The surname Spiess was first found in Devon where conjecturally the Spicers were under tenants of the Count of Mortain at the time of the Norman Conquest. Benedict le Spicer was listed in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, at the time of King John. 4

Some of the first entries in early rolls for the family include: William le Espicer in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1184; Bertram le Specier in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire and in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1201; and Hugo le Especer in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridge in 1214. 5

Later, the singular form of the name appeared: William Spice in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1326; and Clement Spice in the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire in 1399. 5

A search of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed: Simon le Spicere, Cambridgeshire; William le Spicere, Oxfordshire; and William Speciar, Lincolnshire. Up in the north of England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 show the name as both a trade name and a surname: Adam Spisar, spicer; and Giliaum Spyser, 1379. 6

Continuing our quest north into Scotland, the name had the same meaning "spicer, dealer in spices," and two early entries, both as a result of the invasion of King Edward I of England: "Rauf le Spicer rendered homage, 1296, and Eustace Lespicer and Martin Lespicer rendered homage at Berwick, 1291." 7

Early History of the Spiess family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spiess research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1296, 1743, 1765, 1773, 1774, 1777, 1783, 1792 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Spiess History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spiess Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Spiess were recorded, including Spicer, Spicers, Spice and others.

Early Notables of the Spiess family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Spicer (1743?-1804), English miniature-painter, born at Reepham, Norfolk, about 1743, and became a pupil of Gervase Spencer. He worked both on ivory and in enamel, and was one of the ablest miniaturists of the period. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and exhibited with them from 1765 to 1783; in 1773 he was secretary to the society. He exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy in 1774...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spiess Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spiess family to Ireland

Some of the Spiess family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spiess migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Spiess arrived in North America very early:

Spiess Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ludwig Spiess, who landed in New York in 1709-1710 8
Peter Spiess, who landed in New York in 1709 8
Johan Adam Spiess, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 8
Johan Georg Spiess, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 8
Victor Spiess, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Spiess Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anna Spiess, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 8
Johan Spiess, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 8
Johan Jost Spiess, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 8
Wilhelm Spiess, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 8
Maria Spiess, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spiess (post 1700) +

Waldo Spiess, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1952 9
Mathias Spiess, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Manchester, 1912, 1914, 1916 9
Gustav Spiess, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1912 9
George Spiess, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1914 9
Charles A. Spiess, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Mexico Territory, 1908; Member of Republican National Committee from New Mexico, 1912 9

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html