Spalding

Recorded in the spellings of Spaldin and Spalding, this interesting name is of Medieval English origin and is locational from a place called Spalding in Lincolnshire. The derivation of this surname is from the Old English pre 7th Century 'Spaldingas', meaning, members of the tribe of 'Spaldas'. This tribe is mentioned in the 'Tribal Hidage' of the 7th Century (Anglo Saxon Charters) and although the tribal name Spaldas is etymologically obscure, it is thought that they may have migrated from the continent, thus the name may have originated in some place there. Spaldas is presumably derived from the Old High German 'Spartan', meaning a Cleft, or Ravine. This placename appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Spaldyng', and in the Lincolnshire survey of circa 1115 as 'Spaldingis'. Listed in the 'Names of the Living in Virginia' dated February 16th 1623, are the family of Edward Spaolding, his wife, son and daughter, at 'Flourdien Hundred'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert de Spaldingis, which was dated 1175, in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as 'The Builder of Churches', 1154 - 1189. 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.