Origins of the Spencer surname
What does the name Spencer mean?
The Spencer surname is thought to be English, with origins going back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed to be Anglo-Norman, rooted in the word 'espenser' (steward) and the Middle English 'spenser' from the same source. The title would be given to chief tenants of particular areas of land, or stewards and butlers who were part of a noble household. A prominent originator of the name, a 'Robert d'Abbetot', was listed as 'Robert le Dispenser' in the 1086 Domesday book.
Alternative variations of the name Spencer
Spencer, Spenser, Spensar, Spensor, Despencer
Start your family history journey
Start free trial
Start your family tree
Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Spencers.
Sign up to get startedDelve deeper into the Spencer family's history
Common jobs for Spencers
Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.
Commmon female occupations for Spencers in 1921
Cotton Weaver
1,193
Dressmaker
1,136
Laundress
630
Domestic Servant
581
General Servant Domestic
557
Commmon male occupations for Spencers in 1921
Agricultural Labourer
1,008
General Labourer
901
Farmer
871
Coal Miner
770
Farm Labourer
679
Learn more about the lives of Spencer family members
Share your discoveries
Look for a different surname
Find out more about your family in our records