| ![Show Contents]() Spofforth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Spofforth is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in the parish of Spofforth in Knaresborough in Yorkshire. Early Origins of the Spofforth familyThe surname Spofforth was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Spoffarth, a parish, in the Upper division of the wapentake of Claro. "This place was the residence of the Percy family previously to their settlement at Alnwick, and possessed a formidable castle, their baronial seat, which was demolished by the Yorkists after the battle of Towton, in which the Earl of Northumberland, and his brother Sir Charles Percy, were slain. The remains consist chiefly of the grand hall, which, though a ruin, retains much of its ancient magnificence. The church is a spacious and handsome structure, partly in the Norman and early English styles, and contains a monument with a recumbent figure of a Knight Templar. " 1 Listed as Spoford in the Domesday Book of 1086, by 1218 the parish was known as Spotford. Literally the place name means "ford by a small plot of ground," from the Old English words "spot" + "ford." 2 Early History of the Spofforth familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spofforth research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1421 and 1448 are included under the topic Early Spofforth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Spofforth Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Spofforth family name include Spaford, Spafford, Spafforde, Spafforth and others. Early Notables of the Spofforth familyMore information is included under the topic Early Spofforth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Spofforth migration to the United States | + |
For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Spofforth surname or a spelling variation of the name include:
Spofforth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Al. Spofforth, aged 20, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Europa" in 1856 3
Spofforth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Demaris Spofforth, aged 23, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Majestic" in 1907 3
- Thomas Spofforth, aged 14, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Scandinavian" in 1918 3
- William Spofforth, aged 24, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Oriana" in 1919 3
- Alice Mary Spofforth, aged 31, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lapland" in 1919 3
- Walter Spofforth, aged 32, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lapland" in 1919 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Spofforth migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Spofforth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. J. W. Spofforth, settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Emeu" in 1859 4
- Mrs. Spofforth, aged 32, settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orizaba" in 1893 4
- Mr. Jack Spofforth, aged 4, settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orizaba" in 1893 4
- Miss Marjorie Spofforth, aged 6, settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orizaba" in 1893 4
Spofforth Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century- Mr. F. R. Spofforth, aged 50, settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Ophir" in 1902 4
- Mrs. Spofforth, aged 48, settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Ophir" in 1902 4
- Mrs. Spofforth, settler from England who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Mooltan" in 1925 4
- Miss D. Spofforth, settler from England who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Mooltan" in 1925 4
- Mr. F. R. Spofforth, settler from England who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Mooltan" in 1925 4
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Spofforth (post 1700) | + |
- Gemma Mary Spofforth (b. 1987), English former competition swimmer who represented Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics
- David Spofforth (b. 1969), English former professional footballer
- Reginald Spofforth (1770-1827), English glee composer, the son of a currier, born at Southwell, Nottinghamshire; his uncle, Thomas Spofforth, was organist of Southwell Collegiate Church
- Frederick Robert Spofforth (1853-1926), Australian cricket player
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fidelis ad extremum
Motto Translation: Faithful to the extreme.
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Spofforth migration to the United States 
Spofforth migration to Australia 
