Show ContentsSpalding History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Spalding originated in the place called Spalding, in Lincolnshire. Spalding is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. The earliest members of the Spalding family on record, were found in Lincolnshire, where they settled on lands granted by William the Conqueror, following the Norman invasion, in 1066. The Spalding family rose to prominence in Scotland, however.

Early Origins of the Spalding family

The surname Spalding was first found in Lincolnshire, at Spalding, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the wapentake of Elloe. "This place, which is said to have derived its name from a spa or chalybeate spring in the market-place, is of great antiquity, as appears from the remains of Roman embankments in the neighbourhood. In the Saxon annals, it is mentioned as one of the points on the boundary line of the estate belonging to Crowland Abbey, and as the residence of Thorold de Buckenhale, the last Saxon governor of the province of Mercia, who, in 1051, founded here a cell for a prior and five monks subordinate to that monastery. At the Norman Conquest, the manor was presented to Ivo Talbois, Earl of Angiers, and nephew of the Conqueror, who built a castle here, by which the religious society were so harassed that they abandoned their convent." [1]

Originally, they were tenants of the Norman Baron Randolph Mechin, Earl of Chester and later held Spaulding Abbey.

The first on record was Gilbert de Spaldingis (Latin form) who held lands here in 1175. [2]

Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Ralph de Spaldinge, Huntingdonshire; and Ida de Spaldingge, Cambridgeshire. Over one hundred years later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Robertus de Spaldyng; and Margareta de Spaldyng. [3]

Further to the north in Scotland the name is "from the town of Spalding in Lincolnshire. Radulphus de Spalding who witnessed a charter of the mill of Caterline in Kincardineshire in 1225 and is probably the first of the name recorded in Scotland. Magister John de Spaldyn witnessed a grant of lands in Aberdeen, c. 1294. " [4]

Early History of the Spalding family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spalding research. Another 414 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1388, 1453, 1456, 1458, 1479, 1543, 1583, 1587, 1594, 1650 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Spalding History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spalding Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spaulding, Spalding, Spaldene and others.

Early Notables of the Spalding family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • John Spalding (fl. 1388), of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, an English politician and cloth merchant
  • John Spalding, Scottish churchman, Dean of Brechin in 1456

Spalding Ranking

In the United States, the name Spalding is the 4,016th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [5]


United States Spalding migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spalding Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Spalding, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1619 [6]
  • Edward Spalding who settled with his wife and two children in Virginia in 1623
  • Tho Spalding, who landed in Virginia in 1649 [6]
  • Thomas Spalding, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 [6]
  • Christian Spalding, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Spalding Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alex Spalding, who settled in Maryland in 1716
  • Alexander Spalding, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 [6]
  • Alex'der Spalding, who landed in Maryland in 1716 [6]
  • John Spalding, who landed in Virginia in 1741 [6]
  • James Spalding, who landed in Georgia in 1760 [6]
Spalding Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Spalding, who settled in Newport, Rhode Island in 1822
  • C A Spalding, aged 2, who landed in New York in 1838 [6]
  • J E Spalding, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [6]
  • C Spalding, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [6]
  • Capt. Spalding, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]

Canada Spalding migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spalding Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Spalding, aged 26, a mason, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
  • Alexander Spalding, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815

Australia Spalding migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Spalding Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Spalding, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glenswilly" in 1839 [7]
  • Miss Ann Spalding, (Hutton), Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 22nd January 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [8]
  • George Spalding, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ascendant" in 1849 [9]
  • George Spalding, aged 15, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Ascendant" [9]
  • Mr. John Spalding, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 9th Mary 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Spalding 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:

Spalding Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alexander Spalding, (b. 1841), aged 23, British schoolmaster travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 [11]
  • Miss Spalding, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Wild Duck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th December 1867 [12]

Contemporary Notables of the name Spalding (post 1700) +

  • Silsby Spalding (1886-1949), American businessman and politician, 1st Mayor of Beverly Hills, California from 1926 to 1928
  • John Lancaster Spalding (1840-1916), American author, poet, the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria (1877-1908), co-founder of The Catholic University of America
  • Charles Harry “Dick" Spalding (1893-1950), American soccer and baseball player, posthumously inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951
  • Mother Catherine Spalding (1793-1858), American elected leader of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth at the age of nineteen
  • Baird Thomas Spalding (1857-1953), English-born, American author, best known for his spiritual book series: Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East
  • Albert Spalding (1888-1953), American composer and leading concert violinist
  • Albert Goodwill Spalding (1850-1915), American professional baseball player, founder of Spalding, the sporting goods manufacturer
  • William Spalding (1809-1859), Scottish author, son of James Spalding, advocate, of Aberdeen
  • John Spalding (1763-1815), Scottish Member of Parliament for Wigtown Burghs (1796-1803), Fellow of the Royal Society
  • Philip Trevor Spalding (1957-2023), English bass player, session musician and player of Fender Precision Bass guitars who played with Mike Oldfield, Mick Jagger, Seal, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Elton John and Randy Crawford
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Royal Oak
  • Robert Frederick James Spalding (1923-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [13]


The Spalding 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: Hinc mihi salus
Motto Translation: Hence comes salvation to me.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GLENSWILLY 1839 (also called DAWSONS). Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Glenswilly.htm
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASCENDANT 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ascendant.htm
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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