Contents [hide]

Speight History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Speight History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Speight family

The surname Speight 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 Speight family

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

Speight Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Speight family

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

Speight Ranking

In the United States, the name Speight is the 4,547^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Speight family to Ireland

Some of the Speight 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.

Speight migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Speight Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Speight, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 5

Speight Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christopher Speight, who settled in New England in 1760

Speight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Richardson David Speight, aged 29, who landed in Texas in 1829 5

Speight migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Speight Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Speight, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6

Speight migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Speight Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Speight, aged 36, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856

Contemporary Notables of the name Speight (post 1700) +

Andrew Speight (1963-2022), Australian-born, American jazz saxophonist, founder of the Andrew Speight Quartet which won the 1999 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album
Richard Speight Jr. (b. 1970), American actor
Randolph L. Speight (1919-1999), American jurist, director of the Pioneer Fund
Lester Speight (b. 1971), American former professional football player, professional wrestler and actor
Jesse Speight (1795-1847), American state and national politician
Bobby Speight (1930-2007), American college basketball player
Mick Speight (b. 1951), English footballer
Martin Speight (b. 1967), English cricketer
Johnny Speight (1920-1998), English television writer
Jake Speight (b. 1985), English footballer
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Speight 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)
"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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828