Show ContentsSpano History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Spano family

The surname Spano 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 Spano family

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

Spano Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Spano include Espaigne, Espayne, Espain, Espaine, Espinay, Espineto, Espiney, Epinay, Spineto, Espagne, Lespagnol, Lespagnou, Lespagneau, Lespagnol, Lepagneux and many more.

Early Notables of the Spano 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 Spano Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spano Ranking

In the United States, the name Spano is the 9,769th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [8] However, in France, the name Spano is ranked the 8,150th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. [9]


United States Spano migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Spanos to arrive on North American shores:

Spano Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Spano, who arrived in New York, NY in 1899 [10]
Spano Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Maria Anna Spano, who landed in Colorado in 1907 [10]
  • Salvatore Spano, who landed in Colorado in 1907 [10]
  • Joseph Guiseppe Spano, who landed in Colorado in 1907 [10]

Contemporary Notables of the name Spano (post 1700) +

  • Nicholas A. Spano (b. 1953), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1979-86; Member of New York State Senate 35th District, 1987-; Defeated, 2004, 2006 [11]
  • Michael J. Spano, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly 87th District, 1992, 1995- ; Candidate in primary for Mayor of Yonkers, New York, 2003 [11]
  • Brenda Resnick Spano, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2000, 2004 (alternate) [11]
  • Barbara Spano, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 [11]
  • Andrew Spano, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008; Presidential Elector for New York, 2000 [11]


  1. 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)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. 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)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  10. 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)
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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