Early English records of Spurling and Sperling

Medieval records

The Internet Surname Database (SurnameDB) calls Alexander Sperling of Yorkshire, recorded in 1187, "probably" the first known use of the name as a surname. It also cites Ralph Easperling in the Curia Regis rolls of Hertfordshire in 1221^[1]. SurnameDB suggests the name persisted after the Norman Conquest partly because eastern England and East Anglia were less affected by French naming customs^[1]. A family-history blog, citing the commercial site 4Crests.com, gives Jordan Sparling (London, 1148) and "Alexander filius Esperling" (London, 1173). These could not be checked against primary sources^[2].

DAFN's derivation from the Old English personal name Spyrling fits entries like "filius Esperling" ("son of Esperling"), where the name is still a personal name rather than a fixed surname. DAFN lists Sperling among the Middle English forms of the personal name behind Sparling and Spurling^[3].

Nicholas Sperlyng was mayor of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in 1388–90 and 1397–98, and its member of Parliament in 1402.^[4][5] The History of Parliament notes that in 1413 he witnessed the election of Andrew Sperlyng, probably his son, to the Commons.^[4] The sources do not show whether the Wycombe Sperlyngs were related to the later Spurlinges described below.

Tudor and Stuart records

A search of The National Archives' Discovery catalogue in September 2026 turned up many early modern records of the name, most of them spelled Spurlinge. The catalogue descriptions place bearers of the name in three areas: Hertfordshire and neighbouring Bedfordshire, west Middlesex and the edge of Buckinghamshire, and East Anglia.

Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire

Burke's General Armory records arms granted in 1586 to "Sperling or Spurling" of Weston, Hertfordshire^[6]. HouseofNames, a commercial source, also says the name was first found in Hertfordshire^[7]. The Discovery catalogue supports a Hertfordshire family of the name. John Spurlinge of Baldock, Hertfordshire, is listed as a vintner in 1570.^[8] In 1587–91 a John Spurlinge sued in Chancery over copyhold land of the manor of Weston Argentine, Hertfordshire, which fits Burke's grant to the family of Weston.^[9][6] Henry Spurlinge brought a Court of Requests suit over money matters in Hertfordshire under Elizabeth I.^[10] A John Spurlinge, "Serjeant of the Duchy", sued on the Queen's behalf in Duchy of Lancaster pleadings of 1588–89 over property at Beetham, Westmorland.^[11]

The History of Parliament's volume for 1558–1603 has an entry for "John Spurling (d.1603), of Serjeants' Inn, London and Edworth, Beds." It lists him as a member for Launceston (Dunheved), records his marriage to Anne and two sons and five daughters, and says he died in September 1603.^[12] The will of John Spurling or Spurlinge, serjeant-at-law, of Edworth, Bedfordshire, was proved on 15 February 1604.^[13] His widow Ann and Philip Spurling later sued over the manor of Edworth and lands at Holme and Astwick.^[14] A Court of Wards record of 1604–05 is catalogued under "Spurling, John: Hertford".^[15] Philip Spurlinge, esquire, of Gray's Inn, was a plaintiff in the Court of Star Chamber in 1620.^[16]

West Middlesex and Buckinghamshire

Wills in The National Archives include those of Henry Spurlinge, yeoman, of Stanmore the Less (1565), George Spurlinge, yeoman, of Iver, Buckinghamshire (1628), and Rebecca Spurlinge, widow, of Iver (1648).^[17][18][19] An Elizabethan Chancery case concerned Thomas Spurlinge's claim under a will to lands at Cranford.^[20] In the next century come suits over property in Hillingdon (1650–51), the will of Edward Spurlinge, basket maker, of West Drayton (1660), and a 1680 suit between Robert and Nicholas Spurling over property in Harlington.^[21][22][23] This is the same district where the spelling Spurlin appears from 1670 (see The Spurlin name outside the United States).

East Anglia, Essex and London

Roger Spurlinge sued in Chancery in 1556–58 over a house and land in Bury St Edmunds and the goods of his late uncle, John Spurlinge.^[24] Richard Spurlinge of Norwich is listed as a vintner in 1573.^[25] The Norfolk Record Office holds an inventory for a Richard Spurlinge, carpenter, of Norwich, dated 1606–07.^[26] The will of Robert Spurlinge, a London plumber, was proved in 1650.^[27] Burke also lists Spurling and Sperling families in Essex, including Sperling of Dynes Hall, and a Sparling family of Petton, Shropshire^[6].

Gaps

This research did not find published transcriptions naming Spurlings in particular Norfolk, Suffolk or Essex lay subsidy rolls. The 1881 England and Wales census is indexed by genealogy sites, but no freely accessible county breakdown for the name was found. Forebears reports that the number of Spurlings in England grew by 217% between 1881 and 2014^[28].