Spraklen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Spraklen was first found in London where one of the first records of the family appeared in the Latin form of the name as Sprachelingus in the Pipe Rolls of 1130. A few years later in Kent, the family was again listed in in the Pipe Rolls there in 1200 as Sprakelingus. Robertus filius Sprakeling was listed in the early Pipe Rolls of Worcester in 1204. The Pipe Rolls of Norfolk listed Vnspac Spracheling in 1166 and John, Gervase Sprakeling was listed in Worcester in the Pipe Rolls in 1204. 1

The name is generally understood to have been derived from the Old English Spracaling, an anglicizing of the Viking word Sprakaleggr, "man with the creaking legs." 1

Another source claims the "surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Sparkling'. " 2 This latter source also lists Robertus Esprakelin in Cornwall, temp. Henry III. (during the reign of King Henry III) and Kirby's Quest lists "Geoffrey Sparkelyng, in Somerset, 1 Edward III," 3 (during the first year of Edward III's reign.)

These latter two listings in Somerset and Cornwall in south western England are significant as they may explain how some of the family would many years later emigrate to Newfoundland in the 18th century. There the family was principally found in Brigus. Today Spracklings (or Spracklins) Island is found in Labrador. 4