Spann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Spann family

The surname Spann was first found in Somerset where Alfred d'Espagne was a great Norman Baron, brother of Roger Toeni, from Eespagne, Pont Audemer who was granted twenty lordships in Somerset. 1 The parish of Willingale-Spain "derives the adjunct to its name from the family of Hervey de Spain, to whom it belonged at the time of the Norman survey." 2

The name denotes "one who came from Spain, or who returned after having resided in Spain." 3

Exploring the Norman influence more, records there show, " De l'Espagne, from Espagne, near Pont-Audemer, Normandy, a baronial name. Walter de Hispania is mentioned 1080; and his sons Hervey and Alured de Ispania occur 1086 in England (Domesd.). The latter was a great Baron. From the former descended the Spains of Essex, who long continued to flourish." 1

The name "may have had several distinct origins, from as many early settlers. The Essex family of Hispaine, or Spayne, were descendants of Alured Hispaniensis, or De Ispania, who at the Domesday Survey was a tenant in chief in various counties. " 4

"Brismar [in Buckland parish, Devon] had also held, and William had succeeded to, the adjacent manors of Bickleigh and Sampford, now Sampford Spiney. The added name, in this latter case, is said to have been derived from its possession by the family of Spinet or De Spineto; but as the neighbouring parish of Shaugh takes its title from the Saxon sceacga, 'rough coppice,' it is quite as probable that the Spiney here may be simply the allied word spinney. " 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Michael de Ispania, Oxfordshire; John de Ispania, Huntingdonshire; and William de Spayne, Salop while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Roills of 1379 listed Willelmus del Spayn; and John de Spayn. 6

In Scotland, the name denotes, "a native of Spain. It may also be a descriptive name given to a Scot who had returned from a residence in Spain. Walterus nepos Willelmi de Spaine witnessed a charter of three acres of Karruderes (Carruthers) by Walter del Bois, II. d. (Raine, 166). William Spayne, servant to the king and queen of Scotland, 1424, is doubtless the William Spaigne of Scotland who had a safe conduct into England in 1426." 7

Early History of the Spann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spann research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1591, 1620 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Spann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spann Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Spann has been recorded under many different variations, including Espaigne, Espayne, Espain, Espaine, Espinay, Espineto, Espiney, Epinay, Spineto, Espagne, Lespagnol, Lespagnou, Lespagneau, Lespagnol, Lepagneux and many more.

Early Notables of the Spann family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Jean D'Espagne (1591-1659), French Protestant pastor and theologian, born in 1591 in the Dauphiné and was pastor at...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spann Ranking

In the United States, the name Spann is the 2,308^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 8

Spann migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Spanns were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Spann Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Spann, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 9
Tho Spann, who landed in Virginia in 1662 9

Spann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Caspar Spann, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 9
Michael Spann, aged 34, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 9
Adam Spann, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1758 9

Spann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wilhelmine Wegner Spann, aged 33, who landed in America in 1843 9
Joh Herm Jacob Spann, who landed in America in 1844 9
Jacob Spann, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1849 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Spann (post 1700) +

Pervis Spann (1932-2022), American broadcaster, music promoter, and radio personality from Itta Bena, Mississippi
Calvin J. Spann (1924-2015), American original Tuskegee Airman and fighter pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
Gloria Carter Spann (1926-1990), sister of former United States President Jimmy Carter
Chad Spann (b. 1988), American football running back
Alexandra Spann (b. 1986), American female breaststroke swimmer
Antwain Joquan Spann (b. 1983), American football safety
Gary Spann, former American linebacker in the National Football League
James Spann (b. 1956), American television meteorologist
Leslie Spann Jr. (1932-1989), American jazz guitarist and flautist
Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (1969-2001), American paramilitary operations officer in the Central Intelligence Agency
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
"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)