Where Does the Spelman Surname Come From?

Ancestors listed as Spelman are often found as Spillane a generation earlier. The name is generally explained as “Descendant of Spealán (little scythe)”. Records show Spelman as one of the forms Spillane took over time. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. The same family of names includes Spollen.

Spelman ranked 25,226 in the 2010 US Census, with 982 people answering to the name. Names that sound alike, such as Spellman and Spielman, are easily confused in old records.

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Spillane surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon. Want more than a summary? See the Spelman family name pack.