Spate History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Spate family

The surname Spate was first found in Yorkshire where William Speyt was recorded in 1297. A few years later William Speght was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 in Cumberland (Cumbria). John Speht was recorded at Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1315. 1

The name is derived from the Old English words *speoht, *speht, from the Middle English word speight meaning 'wood-pecker'. 1 2 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Matilda Speght; Hugo Speght; and Johanna Spite. 3

Early History of the Spate family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spate research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1600 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Spate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spate Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spaight, Speight, Speaight, Spait, Spate and others.

Early Notables of the Spate family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spate Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spate family to Ireland

Some of the Spate family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 120 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spate migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spate Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Spate, aged 21, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 4
Johannes Spate, aged 11, who arrived in New York, NY in 1875 4
Adam Spate, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1875 4
Christin Spate, aged 4, who arrived in New York, NY in 1875 4
Conrad Spate, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1875 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spate (post 1700) +

Virginia Margaret Spate AC FAHA (1937-2022), née Obione, British-born Australian art historian and academic
Wolfgang Späte, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 99 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

The Spate 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: Vi et virtute
Motto Translation: By strength and valour.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)