Spielman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Spielman family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Norfolk where "this surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Spileman.' " 1 However, another source claims the name was derived from "a learned man but more probably either a man who works by spells, or turns, with another, or a worker of spells or charms. " 2 And yet another source claims that the name was for a "preacher or orator; one who entertained by stories, songs, buffoonery or juggling. " 3
Early Origins of the Spielman family
The surname Spielman was first found in Norfolk but by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered throughout ancient Britain: John Speleman, Nottinghamshire; William Spelesman, Wiltshire; and Eustace Spileman, Oxfordshire. "There are nine entries of Spileman in the Hundred Rolls, representing five counties. " 1
Kirby's Quest notes John Speleman and Roger Spileman in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4
Early History of the Spielman family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spielman research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1491, 1495, 1544, 1562, 1581, 1588, 1594, 1598, 1606, 1626, 1641, 1643, 1645, 1648, 1660, 1663 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Spielman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spielman 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 Spielman were recorded, including Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.
Early Notables of the Spielman family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- Sir John Spilman (also spelt Spielman) (died 1626) a German-born entrepreneur who founded the first commercially successful paper-mill in Kent, England in 1588 and jeweller to Queen Elizabeth I
Spielman Ranking
In the United States, the name Spielman is the 8,099th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
Migration of the Spielman family to Ireland
Some of the Spielman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spielman 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 Spielman arrived in North America very early:
Spielman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Andreas Spielman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 6
- Jacob Spielman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1763 6
- Michael Spielman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1763 6
- Michael Spielman, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1763
- Johannes Spielman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Spielman (post 1700) +
- Chris Spielman (b. 1965), American football player
- Roswell Spielman, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Idaho, 1936 7
- Gordon Spielman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1964 7
- Alice Spielman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wyoming, 1944 (alternate), 1952 7
- Richard Spielman, American Butterworth Professor of Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania
- Andrew Spielman (1930-2006), Harvard public health entomologist
- Daniel M Spielman, Associate Professor of Radiology and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University
- Daniel A Spielman, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Yale University
Citations +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- 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.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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