Show ContentsGaspere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gaspere family

The surname Gaspere was first found in Warwickshire where Walter Gaispor was listed in the Pipe Rolls in 1203. A few years later, ffulco Gayspore was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for London in 1319 and over one hundred years later, Walter Gaispore was listed in the Assize Rolls for London in 1442. The name literally means "one who wore showy spurs" from the Old French "gai," and the Old English word "spura." 1

Early History of the Gaspere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaspere research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1510, 1600, 1620, 1641, 1642 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Gaspere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaspere Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Gaspar, Gaspard, Gaspere, Gaspell, Gaspare and others.

Early Notables of the Gaspere family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Jan Baptist Gaspers (Jaspers) (1620?-1691), English portrait-painter, a native of Antwerp, and in 1641-1642 was admitted a member of the guild of St...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gaspere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gaspere family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Gaspere or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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