Surname Spradley - Meaning and Origin

Spradley: What does the surname Spradley mean?

The surname Spradley is believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins, arising from the ancient kingdom of Wessex, which became known as England. The name is derived from a place name such as Spradlinc, which was a farm or small settlement (represented by the Old English "ing") that belonged to a person known as Sprad or Spratt (present in the first element "Sprad"). So essentially, Spradley could mean "farm or settlement of Sprad or Spratt."

The surname has various spelling forms such as Spradling, Spratling, Spratley, and others. As surnames became standardized over time, the original spelling of names often changed. The variations in the spellings of Spradley could be due to phonetic variations and different regional dialects in the areas where the name was popular.

The surname is quite rare and predominantly found in the United States today. Remember that surnames were originally derived from fairly rudimentary language and vocabulary, often relating to nature, physical attributes or the place that a person lived or came from. Please note this is an interpretation and the exact origins and meaning of the surname may not be completely accurate.

Spradley: Where does the name Spradley come from?

The last name Spradley is thought to have originated from an old English surname and is most commonly found in the southern United States today. In particular, it is found in large concentrations in states such as Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. In total, those states account for over 50% of all people bearing the name Spradley in the United States.

The name is also found in smaller concentrations elsewhere in the US. Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, California, and Virginia all report a strong presence of Spradleys living in their states. Incidentally, these states make up the majority of the US states with over 1,000 people who report the name Spradley according to Census Bureau data.

Outside of the US, the name Spradley has gained more traction in recent years. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland all show a presence of the surname. Still, the greatest concentration of the name remains in the US.

In the US, the Spradley surname is typically associated with the southern states. It is not a common name in the more northern states. However, it is steadily gaining in popularity as more and more people move and emigrate from southern states to other parts of the country. As a result, it can now be reliably said that the last name Spradley is fairly widespread across the US.

Variations of the surname Spradley

The surname Spradley is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Spraidle, which is derived from the Gaelic “Mac Spréidil”. Other variants of this surname include Spidle, Spriddle, Spratly, Spratley, and Sprattled. In addition, there are various spellings of this surname, such as Spradly, Spraddle, Spradly, Spradlye, Spriadle, Spradlie, and Spradlee.

In Ireland, the form Spratley appears to predominate. The name is most commonly found in County Cork, where the families may have descended from the Norman/Flemish family of de Spratley. Another possible origin could be the influence of the Viking settlers from Scandinavia who arrived in Ireland in the ninth century. It is likely that these newcomers established a sept of sprinkles, which changed and evolved over time into the modern spelling of Mac Spraidle.

In the United States, the name is particularly common in the Southern states; several branches of Spradleys are thought to have come from the British Isles as early as the 1600s. During the 19th century, the immigration of many families from Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales to the United States also contributed to the spread of the surname.

By and large, Spradley is an uncommon name. Although there are various spellings of this surname, the most common forms are Spradley, Spratly, Spidle, and Spriddle.

Famous people with the name Spradley

• Bobby Spradley: Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played from 1996 to 2006.
• Waitman Spradley: Actor and comedian most known for his work in films such as Baby Boom (1987) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
• Lisa Spradley: Director and producer of films and television shows, most notably creating the series 7th Heaven (1996–2007).
• Ray Spradley: Former professional football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills from 1964-1969.
• Travis Spradley: Former NFL lineman who played for the Denver Broncos in 1988.
• Dalton Bell Spradley: American music producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, credited for his work on projects such as Chris Brown’s 2005 album “Run It!” and Soulja Boy’s 2007 “The Deandre Way”.
• Laura Spradley: Computer Scientist and professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, focusing her research on cognitive and artificial intelligence.
• Ben Spradley: Musician and actor, best known for playing the role of Andy in the 2012 science-fiction movie Looper.
• Ben Spradley Jr.: Son of Ben Spradley, former professional baseball player who played for the San Diego Padres from 2005-2007.
• Mark Spradley: Professional basketball player, playing in the NBA from 1979-1985, most notably for the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors.

Other surnames

SpradlinSpradling