Geneanet > Resources > Family Names > SPENCER

Origin and popularity of the name SPENCER

Origin

Spencer : English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name for someone who dispensed provisions or money from Middle English spenser(e) spencer(e) ‘household steward butler almoner’ (Anglo-Norman French espenser Old French despensier). Compare Spence and Spender. There is some dispute about the origins of the Spencer family whose most famous member in recent times was the late Princess of Wales born Lady Diana Spencer (1961–97). Some sources say that they are descended from William the Conqueror's steward Robert Despencer. What is clear is that by the 15th century they had become prosperous from sheep farming in Northamptonshire. Robert Spencer (died 1627) was said to be the wealthiest man in England. Their titles have included Earls of Sunderland and Earls Spencer; and through the female line the 5th Earl of Sunderland also became Duke of Marlborough in 1733. This connection was the result of the marriage in 1700 of the 3rd Duke of Sunderland to the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough. The youngest son of this union John Spencer (1708–46) was the father of the 1st Earl Spencer (1734–83).

Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press

Subject to the Terms and Conditions of Ancestry

Last name frequency

Geographic distribution of the 246,569 individuals with the name SPENCER on Geneanet.

 

Most found places for the name SPENCER:

    This last name in the family trees

    See below the Geneanet members' family trees which contain the last name SPENCER

    wbuchanan
    (11,332 individuals)
    kenroberts
    (3,477 individuals)
    samueltaylorgeer
    (1,961 individuals)
    gchimney
    (1,320 individuals)

    Search another name

    Search 8 billion individuals

    Search 8 billion individuals

    Search the last name of your ancestors in 8 billion indexed individuals.

    Search SPENCER

    Start your family tree

    Start your family tree

    Create your family tree and take advantage of valuable tips to help you search your ancestors.

    Start your family tree

    Variants of name SPENCER

    LEDESPENCER LEDESPENSER SPENSER DISPENSER