Sprakes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Sprakes

Sprakes is a name whose history dates far back into the mists of early British times to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a name for a person who because of their physical abilities was referred to as "sprack" or "spragg." This nickname surname was used to denote those individuals who were "agile", "nimble" and "quite lively." 1 2 3

In Shakespeare's comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, he states "He is a good sprag memory," IV. i. 84. 4

Early Origins of the Sprakes family

Early History of the Sprakes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sprakes research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1620, 1632, 1645, 1655, 1660, 1664, 1673, 1677, 1684, 1695, 1720, 1725, 1919, 1944 and 1946 are included under the topic Early Sprakes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sprakes 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. Sprakes has been recorded under many different variations, including Spragg, Spragge, Sprague, Sprake, Sprigg, Spriggs and many more.

Early Notables of the Sprakes family

Joshua Sprigg or Sprigge (1618-1684), an English Independent theologian and preacher, chaplain to Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Edward Spragge or Spragg or Sprague (c.1620-1673) was a Royal Navy officer, an accomplished seaman who fought in many great actions after the Stuart Restoration of King Charles II of England in 1660. Francis Spriggs (died 1725)...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sprakes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sprakes family to Ireland

Some of the Sprakes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 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 Sprakes 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 Sprakes or a variant listed above: John Spragg who settled in New England in 1765; Richard Spragg arrived in Philadelphia in 1814; Anna, Francis, Jonathon, Mercy, Ralph, Richard and William Sprague all settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1623.