Surname Spaulding - Meaning and Origin
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Spaulding: What does the surname Spaulding mean?
Spaulding is an English surname derived from the Old English personal name "Spalding," which originated from a place name in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. The place name itself was derived from the Old English words "spald," meaning "ditch" or "dike," and "ing," a suffix indicating "people of" or "dwellers at." Therefore, the surname Spaulding denotes "the people living near the ditch or dike." The name could also be interpreted as an occupational name for someone involved in maintaining or repairing ditches or dikes. This surname became prevalent in the United States due to early immigration from England. Each family line may have a different family coat of arms related to the Spaulding surname, yet bear in mind there may be different origins for this surname not related to the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisSpaulding: Where does the name Spaulding come from?
The last name Spaulding is most commonly found in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2019 there were 5,673 people with the Spaulding surname living in the US. The highest concentration is in Utah with 1,232 people, followed by California with 809 people. The state with the third highest concentration of Spauldings is New Hampshire with 297 people and Ohio coming fourth with 237 people.
The surname originated in Britain and it is in Britain where it is still most commonly found today. Currently, the most Spauldings in the UK are in London. However, there are other places in the UK where this name is commonly found, such as Devon, County Durham, Somerset, and Lincolnshire.
Outside of the US and UK, Spaulding can also be found in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Canada, the most Spauldings are located in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. In New Zealand, the greatest number of Spauldings are in the North Island, in Auckland and Wellington.
The name Spaulding is likely a derivative of the two old English words "sceald" and "inga" which mean shallow and meadow respectively, giving "Shallow Meadow" which has likely morphed over the centuries to its current spelling, Spaulding.
Variations of the surname Spaulding
The surname Spaulding can also be spelled as Spalding, Spaulden, Spalden, Spaull, Spall, Spaulls, Spalls, Spelman, Spilman, Spelman, and Spelmane. It is a locational surname, derived from the settlement of Spalding in Lincolnshire, England.
The Spalding spelling of the surname is the most commonly seen in England and the United States, while the Spaull spelling is popular in Scotland. Surnames that come from the Spalding name include Spaulding, Spalding, Spalden, Spaull, and Spall.
The Spaull variation is found mainly in Scotland and is occasionally seen in England. It is thought to be derived from the medieval Scottish surname of Spaod. The Spelman and Spilman variations may have arrived in England from the Germanic or Scandinavian regions prior to the Norman conquest of England.
The Spalls variation is an Anglicised spelling of the Irish name O Spealain, derived from the Gaelic O Spealain, meaning "descendant of Spealain". The Spaulls name may have been derived from spell, which was a medieval manorial name associated with the Old English word for ploughshares.
The Spelmane name is thought to be a derivative of Spellman. Spellman is an English and German surname that was derived from the medieval job title of spellman, a person responsible for reciting sacred spells and prayer.
Overall, regardless of the variation, all of these surnames are believed to be derived from the settlement of Spalding in Lincolnshire, England.
Famous people with the name Spaulding
- Will Spaulding: American poet, podcaster, and photographer
- David Spaulding: former Major League Baseball player
- Sam Spaulding: Professional baseball player with the Los Angeles Angels
- Nancy Spaulding: World War II American fighter pilot
- Lillian Gray Spaulding: Professor, university chancellor, and Canadian historian
- John Spaulding: American dress designer
- Debra Spaulding: American actress
- Alan Lyle Spaulding: American military aviator, IT professional, and technical editor
- Charles M. Spaulding: American industrialist and philanthropist
- James Dwight Spaulding: US Representative from Kentucky