Map of England showing where the Spice arms are recorded
The Spice 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 Spice 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 Spice Family in England
The surname Spice is classified as an occupational name, which means it likely originated from the trade or profession of an early ancestor. During the Middle Ages, a "spicer" was a person who sold spices, herbs, and medicinal goods, often acting as a precursor to the modern pharmacist or grocer. By the time members of the Spice family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. Families with this name were often part of the growing merchant class in northern English cities, where they benefited from the busy trade routes and markets of the region. Because York served as a major center for commerce and administration, the presence of the Spice family there suggests they were likely involved in the local economy or professional life of the city during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Species
Latin term meaning appearance, kind, or sort.
This name
SpiceAn occupational name for a dealer in spices or aromatic goods.
also spelled
Spice
Spyse
Spise
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
