Show ContentsSplatt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Splatt family

The surname Splatt was first found in Dorset, where the name appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Sprott, which was later changed to Spratt. The family branched into Devon and they also branched to Wareham in Dorset.

One source notes that the name could have been derived from "sprot (twig or small branch); one thought to possess some characteristic of a sprat (fish); dweller at the sign of the sprat. " 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had various entries for the name in various counties: Henry Sprot, Cambridgeshire; Richard Sprot, Oxfordshire; and Simon Sprot in Bedfordshire. John Sprot was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign. 2

Agnes Sproate was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and later John Sprott de Surlingham, Norfolk was listed in the History of Norfolk. 3

Much further to the north in Scotland, the name there was "perhaps from Sprot, an Old English personal name, but more likely to be of Scandinavian origin. The tradition of those bearing this name in Scotland is that their ancestors were Saxons who came into Scotland after the Norman Conquest of England. The first recorded of the name in Scotland appears to be Hugh Sprot of Ur who witnessed a charter by Eustace Baliol granting the church and lands of Hur (Urr) in 1262 to the monks of Holyrood. " 4

"Jack Sprat" (or "Jack Spratt") is an English language nursery rhyme that was first published in 1639 in John Clarke's collection of sayings. The rhyme was then later reprinted in Mother Goose's Melody around 1765.

Early History of the Splatt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Splatt research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1307, 1376, 1398, 1443, 1457, 1479, 1505, 1582, 1594, 1600, 1616, 1623, 1628, 1635, 1666, 1684, 1713, 1890 and 1987 are included under the topic Early Splatt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Splatt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spratt, Spratte, Sprat, Sprett, Spret, Sprott and others.

Early Notables of the Splatt family

Notables of the family at this time include Blessed Thomas Sprott (died 1600), also spelled Thomas Spratt, an English martyr from Skelsmergh, near Kendal in Westmorland; he was among the eighty-five martyrs of England...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Splatt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Splatt family to Ireland

Some of the Splatt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Splatt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Splatt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Splatt, (b. 1818), aged 27 who was convicted and transported aboard the "David Malcolm" from England on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, he died in 1859 5


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. 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.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm


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