Contents [hide]

Sproat History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Sproat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Sproat family

The surname Sproat was first found in Derbyshire where the Domesday Book of 1086 lists the name was "derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Sprot,'" 1

From this earliest record, some of the family were found in Yorkshire as evidenced by Sprot de Spaldintona who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. The same rolls also listed Willelmus filius Sprot at that time. 1

By the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered through ancient Britain: Henry Sprot, Cambridgeshire; Richard Sprot, Oxfordshire; and Simon Sprot, Bedfordshire. 2 Kirby's Quest listed "John Sprot, Somerset, 1 Edward III" (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) 3

Further to the north in Scotland, the name was "perhaps from Sprot, an Old English personal name, but more likely to be of Scandinavian origin. The tradition of those bearing this name in Scotland is that their ancestors were Saxons who came into Scotland after the Norman Conquest of England. The first recorded of the name in Scotland appears to be Hugh Sprot of Ur who witnessed a charter by Eustace Baliol granting the church and lands of Hur (Urr) in 1262 to the monks of Holyrood. " 4

Back in England, Thomas Sprott or Spott (fl. 1270), was an English historian and monk of St. Augustine's, Canterbury, and wrote a history of that foundation at that time. 5

Early History of the Sproat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sproat research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1443, 1449, 1582, 1594, 1600, 1608, 1616, 1623, 1628 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Sproat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sproat Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sproat, Sprot, Sprott, Sprout and others.

Early Notables of the Sproat family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Sprot of Aberdeen; and Blessed Thomas Sprott (Spratt) (d. 1600), an English martyr.On the infamous side, George Sprott (d. 1608), was an English conspirator and alleged forger, practised as a notary at Eyemouth before and after 1600. "About that year he seems to have made the acquaintance of Robert Logan of Restalrig. Two years later Sprott let fall some incautious expressions to the effect that he had proofs...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sproat Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sproat family to Ireland

Some of the Sproat family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sproat migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sproat Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Sproat, who settled in New England in 1630

Sproat Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas and Hugh Sproat, who settled in New York in 1774
Hugh Sproat, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1774 6
John Sproat, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1774 6

Sproat Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Sproat, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1816 6
Thomas Sproat, who landed in America in 1822 6
Archibald Sproat, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6
Robert Sproat, who arrived in New Jersey in 1855 6
Francis Sproat, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6

Sproat migration to Australia +

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

Sproat Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Sproat, (Sproot), (b. 1790), aged 31, English farm labourer who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Sproat (post 1700) +

W. E. Sproat, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1888 8
R. H. Sproat, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 30th District, 1933-34 8
Ron Sproat, screenwriter and playwright known for his work on Dark Shadows
Hugh Sproat (b. 1952), Scottish footballer
Clyde Sproat (1930-2008), Hawaiian falsetto musician
Alexander Sproat (1834-1890), Ontario land surveyor, businessman and political figure
Iain MacDonald Sproat (b. 1938), retired British Conservative politician
Gilbert Malcolm Sproat (1834-1913), Scottish-born Canadian businessman

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html