Spragg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Spragg comes from its first bearer, who was a person who because of their physical abilities was referred to as "sprack" or "spragg." This nickname surname was used to denote those individuals who were "agile", "nimble" and "quite lively." 1 2 3
In Shakespeare's comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, he states "He is a good sprag memory," IV. i. 84. 4
Early Origins of the Spragg family
The surname Spragg was first found in Suffolk where Reginald Sprag is listed in Suffolk in 1303. This is generally considered to be the first record of the family. A few years later, Richard Sprak was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327 and Alice Sprakes was listed in Somerset in 1359. 5
Early History of the Spragg family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spragg research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1620, 1632, 1645, 1655, 1664, 1673, 1677, 1684, 1695, 1720, 1725, 1919, 1944 and 1946 are included under the topic Early Spragg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spragg Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Spragg has been spelled many different ways, including Spragg, Spragge, Sprague, Sprake, Sprigg, Spriggs and many more.
Early Notables of the Spragg family
Notables of this surname at this time include:
- Rev. Harvey Spragg of Essex; Joshua Sprigg or Sprigge (1618-1684), an English Independent theologian and preacher, chaplain to Sir Thomas Fairfax; and Francis Spriggs (died 1725), a British pirate act...
Migration of the Spragg family to Ireland
Some of the Spragg family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spragg migration to the United States +
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Spraggs to arrive in North America:
Spragg Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Richard Spragg, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 6
- William Spragg, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 6
Spragg Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Theodocia Spragg, who landed in Virginia in 1702 6
- John Spragg who settled in New England in 1765
Spragg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Richard Spragg, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1814
Spragg migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Spragg Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. Caleb Spragg U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 7
- Mr. Richard Spragg U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 7
- Mr. Thomas Spragg U.E. (b. 1730) who settled in Springfield, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1812 7
Spragg migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Spragg Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Frances Spragg, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
- Mr. Charles Spragg, (b. 1786), aged 49, British convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "England" on 6th June 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
- Miss Elizabeth Spragg, English convict who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 22nd January 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Spragg migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Spragg Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Charles Spragg, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
- Mary Spragg, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
- Elijah Spragg, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
- Emma Spragg, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
- Martha Spragg, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Spragg (post 1700) +
- Wesley Spragg (1848-1930), English-born, New Zealand butter manufacturer and exporter from Madeley, Shropshire
- Laura Spragg (b. 1982), English cricket player
- Warren Spragg (b. 1982), English-born Italian former rugby union international player who represented the Italy National Tean in 2006
- Alonzo Stephen "Lonnie" Spragg (1879-1904), Australian rugby union player
Historic Events for the Spragg family +
Monongah Mine
- Mr. Leslie Spragg (b. 1885), American coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 11
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)
- Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
- Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).