Map of England showing where the Spedding arms are recorded
The Spedding arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Spedding arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Spedding Family in England
The surname Spedding is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, specifically within the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. Etymologists often link the name to the Old Norse word *sped*, which refers to a swift or speedy person, suggesting that the name may have functioned as a descriptive nickname for a quick-footed ancestor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in York, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local trade and agriculture, gradually spreading from their rural roots into the growing urban centers of Northern England. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic fabric of the region, leaving behind a trail of parish registers and legal documents that track their movement across the north of England over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Spaed
Old English term for speed, haste, or success.
This name
SpeddingDerived from a location in Cumberland, referring to a meadow or pasture belonging to someone named Spaed.
also spelled
Spedden
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
