Spall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Spall is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Spall family 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 Spall family

The surname Spall 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 Spall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spall 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 Spall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spall Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Speelman, Spellman, Spelman, Spilman, Spillman, Spillane, O'Spillane, Spilane, Spallon, Spollin, Splaine and many more.

Early Notables of the Spall family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Spelman (1495?-1544), English judge of the King's Bench, born about 1495, was son of Henry Spelman, recorder of Norwich in 1491. "The Spelman family were of ancient descent, being sprung from Hampshire, where in the time of Henry III they held the manor of Brockenhurst; in the fourteenth century they appear to have settled in Norfolk, where they held the manor of Bekerton in the fifteenth century. " 5Sir Henry Spelman (c.1562-1641) was an English antiquary from Congham, Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d. 1581), of Congham, and the...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spall family to Ireland

Some of the Spall 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.

Spall migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Spall or a variant listed above:

Spall Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Spall, who landed in Maryland in 1663 6

Spall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Spall, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Spall Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry Wm. Spall, aged 27, who landed in America from London, England, in 1908
Leonard Charles Spall, aged 10, who landed in America from Bloomsburg, England, in 1909
William Spall, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1909
Emily Ann Spall, aged 50, who landed in America from Bloomsburg, England, in 1909
Ethel May Spall, aged 29, who immigrated to America from London, England, in 1923
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spall (post 1700) +

Rafe Joseph Spall (b. 1983), English actor on stage and screen
Timothy Leonard Spall OBE (b. 1957), English character actor, presented the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the King's Speech (2010)
Sergeant Robert Spall (1890-1918), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War 7

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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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)
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM). (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Robert Spall. Retrieved from http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=1576015