Show ContentsSparkman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Sparkman is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal name Sparrowhawk, and in " 'the son of Sparrowhawk'; found as early as Domesday [Book] in the forms Sperhauoc (Nottinghamshire) [and] Sparhauoc (Suffolk.)" 1 The name could have been a nickname as in 'the sparrow - hawk,' having derived from the Middle English word "sperhauke." Another source notes the name could have been derived from the Old Norse words "sparkr" or "sproek" which meant "lively, sprightly." 2

Early Origins of the Sparkman family

The surname Sparkman was first found in Lincolnshire where William Sperc was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1202. A few years later, Ralph Sparke was listed in Suffolk in 1221. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Sparhcuk Sutor in Suffolk; Thomas Sperheuk in Lincolnshire; and Nicholas Sparke in Norfolk. 1 John Sparhauk was rector of St Buttolph the Abbot, Norwich in 1351 and Kirby's Quest listed Gilbert Sperhauk in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 3

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Magota Spark and Robertus Spark as both living there at that time. 1

Early History of the Sparkman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sparkman research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1407, 1548, 1554, 1566, 1574, 1583, 1584, 1591, 1603, 1604, 1613, 1616, 1628, 1629, 1636, 1640, 1660, 1677, 1680, 1683, 1692, 1698 and 1740 are included under the topic Early Sparkman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sparkman Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Sparkman has been recorded under many different variations, including Sparke, Spark, Sparkes, Sparks and others.

Early Notables of the Sparkman family

Notables of the family at this time include John Sparke (died 1566), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle in 1554; John Sparke (d.1603) of Plymouth, Devon, Mayor of Plymouth in 1583 and 1591; and his son, John Sparke (c. 1574-1640), an English politician from The Friary, in the parish of St Jude, Plymouth, Devon, who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629; and his grandson, John Sparke (1636-1680) an English landowner and...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sparkman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sparkman Ranking

In the United States, the name Sparkman is the 3,679th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Sparkman family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Sparkman or a variant listed above: John Sparks who settled in Virginia in 1621; George Sparke who settled in Virginia in 1623; Robert Sparkes settled in Maryland in 1663; Thomas Sparkes settled in Virginia in 1616.


Contemporary Notables of the name Sparkman (post 1700) +

  • Robert Sparkman (b. 1972), American former professional football player
  • Stephen Milancthon Sparkman (1849-1929), American politician, U.S. Representative from Florida
  • John Jackson Sparkman (1899-1985), American politician, United States Senator from Alabama (1946-1979), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (1975-1979), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (1967-1975)
  • William Edwin "Bill" Sparkman Jr. (1958-2009), American schoolteacher and Field Representative for the United States Census Bureau
  • Stephen Milancthon Sparkman (1849-1929), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1892; U.S. Representative from Florida 1st District, 1895-1917 5
  • Michael S. Sparkman, American politician, Mayor of Plant City, Florida, 1994-96, 2000-03, 2004-05 5
  • H. C. Sparkman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1916 5
  • George B. Sparkman, American politician, Mayor of Tampa, Florida, 1881-83, 1887-88 5
  • Dave Sparkman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1936 5
  • Dale Sparkman, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1980 5
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Henry William Sparkman (d. 1912), aged 35, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 6


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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