Show ContentsSpead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Spead Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the Spead family

The surname Spead was first found in Suffolk where in 1185, Godfrey Speed appeared on the Pipe Rolls. 1 Years later, Johannes Sped was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Suffolk. The same rolls also listed Margaret Sped in Cambridgeshire: and Roger Sped in Oxfordshire. 2

The name could have claimed Normandy as the starting point as one source notes that the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Ivo de Spada there in 1185. 3

Other sources claim that it was a nickname as a "reference to the swiftness of the original bearers." 4 And yet another claims the name was "a font-name, wishing prosperity or good-speed to the child." 2

Further to the north in Scotland, Nicholas Speid occupied part of the lands of Cuikstone or Quygstone in Angus, 1410 and Cuthbert Speid was witness in Forfar in the same year. 5

Early History of the Spead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spead research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1277, 1551, 1555, 1556, 1578, 1595, 1598, 1629, 1631, 1650, 1682 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Spead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spead Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Speed, Spede, Speyde, Speede, Speid and others.

Early Notables of the Spead family

John Speed (c. 1551-1629), an English cartographer and historian, best known English mapmaker of the Stuart period. Born in Farndon, Cheshire, he went into the tailoring business of his father, Samuel. While working in London, he came to the attention of learned individuals who gave him an allowance to engage in full-time scholarship. Queen Elizabeth granted Speed the use of a room in the Custom House. By 1595, Speed published a map of biblical Canaan and in 1598 he presented his maps to Queen Elizabeth. "Mr. Joseph Speed of Culliton (Colyton in East Devon), [was]...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Spead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spead migration to Australia +

Spead Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Spead, British Convict who was convicted in Reading, Berkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden

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