Spotswode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Spotswode family

The surname Spotswode was first found in Berwickshire where "the name is derived from the barony of Spottiswoode. The family were benefactors to the Abbeys of Melrose and Kelso in early times. The immediate ancestor or Spottiswoode, still 'of that Ilk,' was Robert de Spottiswood, who was born in the reign of King Alexander III., and died in that of Robert Bruce. " 1

Early History of the Spotswode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spotswode research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1510, 1513, 1565, 1567, 1585, 1596, 1597, 1637, 1639, 1645, 1646, 1666, 1676, 1710, 1728, 1740 and 1923 are included under the topic Early Spotswode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spotswode Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spottiswood, Spottiswode, Sportwode, Sportwood, Spotswood and many more.

Early Notables of the Spotswode family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Spottiswoode (1565-1639), Archbishop of St Andrews, Primate of All Scotland and historian of Scotland. James Spottiswood (1567-1645), was Bishop of Clogher, born at Calder in Scotland, the second son of John Spottiswood (1510-1585.) He was younger brother of John Spottiswood (1565-1637), Archbishop of St. Andrews. His father was a Scottish reformer, second son of William Spottiswood of Spottiswood who was killed at Flodden in 1513. Sir Robert Spottiswoode Lord Newabbey (1596-1646), was a Scottish lawyer and second...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spotswode Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spotswode family to Ireland

Some of the Spotswode family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spotswode migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spotswode Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander Spotswode, who landed in Virginia in 1710 2

The Spotswode Motto +

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: Patior ut potiar
Motto Translation: I suffer that I may obtain.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)