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| I. | Family Tree | ||
| II. | Letter to Matilda Speer from Rev. H.K. Mack | ||
| III. | Pictures and map of Speer family Home - IRELAND | ||
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The surname of SPEER was an occupational name 'the speir', meaning the watchman. The name was brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name was derived from the Old English word 'Spere'. Early records of the name mention Walter Spear was recorded in County Somerset in the year 1185. Henry Spere was documented in 1246, County Lancashire. William le Spiour of the County of Cheshire was recorded in 1302. Robert Spyer of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Richard Spyre registered at Oxford University in 1515. John Spier of County Oxfordshire and Jane Price were married in London in 1662. Robert Spear and Maria Baker were married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1802. George Spier is recorded in Stirling, Scotland in 1548. The name was taken to Scotland by early settlers, and George Speris is recorded in Stirling in the year 1548. Janet Speirs appears in Farniknowes in the year 1679, and Thomas Speirs in Torrieburne, complained against his minister in 1689. The name has many variant spellings which include Speare, Spears, Speer, and Speers. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification. |
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