Spensley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Spensley

What does the name Spensley mean?

The Spensley surname derives from the Old French word "despense," from the Latin "dispendere" meaning "to dispense;" as such, it is thought to have been an metonymic occupational surname for someone in charge of the pantry of a great house or monastery. The Middle English word "spense" means "larder" or "storeroom."

Early Origins of the Spensley family

The surname Spensley was first found in Yorkshire, where Simon del Spens (or de la Despense) was on record in 1300, in the Charters of Guisburn Priory, Yorkshire. Other early records include Amice ate Spense, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Essex of 1327; and William atte Spence listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in that same year.

Early History of the Spensley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spensley research. Another 243 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1320, 1358, 1365, 1385, 1390, 1426, 1428 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Spensley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spensley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spence, Spens, Spense, Spenceley, Spencley and many more.

Early Notables of the Spensley family

More information is included under the topic Early Spensley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spensley family to Ireland

Some of the Spensley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Spensley family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: a Mrs. Spence, who was on record in Virginia in 1623; John Spenceley, who sailed to Barbados in 1635; Francis Spence, who was in Virginia in 1635; Robert Spence, who came to Virginia in 1654.

Contemporary Notables of the name Spensley (post 1700) +

William Spensley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1888 1

Sources +

The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html