Sprecher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Sprecher come from its first bearer, who was 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 Sprecher family

The surname Sprecher was first found in Suffolk where Reginald Sprag is listed in Suffolk in 1303. This is generally considered to be the first record of the family. A few years later, Richard Sprak was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327 and Alice Sprakes was listed in Somerset in 1359. 5

Early History of the Sprecher family

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

Sprecher Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Sprecher has been spelled many different ways, including Spragg, Spragge, Sprague, Sprake, Sprigg, Spriggs and many more.

Early Notables of the Sprecher family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Rev. Harvey Spragg of Essex; Joshua Sprigg or Sprigge (1618-1684), an English Independent theologian and preacher, chaplain to Sir Thomas Fairfax; and Francis Spriggs (died 1725), a British pirate active...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sprecher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sprecher family to Ireland

Some of the Sprecher 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.

Sprecher migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Sprechers to arrive in North America:

Sprecher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Christoph Sprecher, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 6
Hans Georg Sprecher, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 6
Jacob Sprecher, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 6
Johann Chris Sprecher, who landed in America in 1751 6
Johann Christoph Sprecher, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sprecher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Sprecher, aged 32, who landed in New York, NY in 1878 6

Sprecher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Carl Sprecher, aged 3, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 6
Charlotta Sprecher, aged 23, who arrived in New York, NY in 1902 6
Mathilda Sprecher, aged 1, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Sprecher (post 1700) +

Randal Sprecher, American founder of Sprecher Brewery, a brewery in Glendale, Wisconsin, Milwaukee's first craft brewery since Prohibition
Samuel Sprecher (b. 1849), American educator, President of Wittenberg University
Robert Arthur Sprecher (1917-1982), American jurist, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1971–1982)
Lorrie Sprecher (b. 1960), American writer, musician, and activist
Jill Sprecher, American film director, producer and writer
Ben Sprecher, American Broadway producer and general manager, known for his work on Voices in the Dark (1999), Fortune's Fool (2002), Sly Fox (2004), Mark Twain Tonight! (2005), The Odd Couple (2005–2006) and Legends (2006–2007)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)