Spaight

Spaight
Found in a number of different spellings including Spieght, Spight, Spaight, and Spieght, this unusual surname was originally recorded only in Yorkshire. Its origins lie with the Olde English and Saxon word 'Speoht' which describes a 'Wood Pecker' and it is one of a medieval group of surnames which derive from nicknames associated with creatures. These nicknames were given to people whose personal characteristics were believed to match the specific animal or bird or even fish in question. Examples include Hawk, Eagle and Sparrow. Sometimes the surnames were also job descriptive, many people called Hawk or Hawker actually trained these birds, although quite what 'Wood Pecker' meant is uncertain. What is certain is that if the name had been uncomplimentary, it would (like for instance Snail), have disappeared, and in anycase there is a Coat of Arms granted of an extremely warlike style. This has a silver field, a black fess charged with three pheons, and the crest of a hand holding a gold pheon. The pheon is the heraldic version of a spear head, and it is believed to imply power and speed of action. Examples of the recordings include John Speht (also spelt Speght) of Wakefield in 1313, and Elizabeth Spight of Dewsbury in 1540. Johis Speghte appears in Kirkburton, near Huddersfield in 1548, and for many years this village was an epi-centre of the original spelling form. A further example is that of Elizabeth Speight, who married James Burnett at Doncaster on September 29th 1596, in the reign of the first Elizabeth. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Speyt, which was dated 1297, The accounts of the Duchy of Cornwall in Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The hammer of the Scots' 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Spaight — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Richard Spaight senior (1758–1802), US amerikanischer Politiker Richard Spaight junior (1796–1850), US amerikanischer Politiker Siehe auch: Spaeth Späth Speth …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • spaight — dial. f. spate n …   Useful english dictionary

  • Richard Dobbs Spaight — Infobox Governor name = Richard Dobbs Spaight order = 8th office = Governor of North Carolina term start = 1792 term end = 1795 lieutenant = predecessor = Alexander Martin successor = Samuel Ashe birth date = birth date|1758|03|25 birth place =… …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Dobbs Spaight — Richard Spaight Richard Dobbs Spaight (* 25. März 1758 in New Bern, North Carolina; † 6. September 1802 ebenda) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und achter Gouverneur von North Carolina. Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Spaight, Jr. — Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. (* 1796 in New Bern, North Carolina; † 2. November 1850 ebenda) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und 27. Gouverneur von North Carolina. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Frühe Jahre 2 Politischer Aufstieg 3 Gouverneur von North… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Spaight senior — Richard Spaight Richard Dobbs Spaight (* 25. März 1758 in New Bern, North Carolina; † 6. September 1802 ebenda) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und der achte Gouverneur des Bundesstaates North Carolina …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. — Infobox Governor name =Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. order =27th office =Governor of North Carolina term start =1835 term end =1836 lieutenant = predecessor =David Lowry Swain successor =Edward Bishop Dudley birth date =1796 birth place =New Bern,… …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Spaight junior — Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr. (* 1796 in New Bern, North Carolina; † 2. November 1850 ebenda) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und der 27. Gouverneur des Bundesstaates North Carolina. Frühe Jahre und politischer Aufstieg Richard Spaight war der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Spaight — ist der Name folgender Personen: Richard Spaight senior (1758–1802), US amerikanischer Politiker Richard Spaight junior (1796–1850), US amerikanischer Politiker Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidu …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Spaight Donnell — Richard Spaight Donnell, (September 20, 1820 June 3, 1867) was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in New Bern, North Carolina; was the grandson of Richard Dobbs Spaight; attended New Bern Academy and Yale College; was… …   Wikipedia

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