The Spalding surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,601 people carried this name — #4,125 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 34,200 people counted. That is up 3% from 8,363 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Spalding surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Spalding’.

An early record he cites: Ralph de Spaldinge, Huntingdonshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Spalding and Spaulding.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 705 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

62 people named Spalding have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 71 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 5 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Warmian-Masurian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Warmian-Masurian 29
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 14
Silesian 12
Pomeranian 5
Łódź 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

57 people named Spalding is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 57

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

Spalding was recorded 21 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1107th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 37. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

280 families named Spalding, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,574 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 8 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 82
New Hampshire 49
Connecticut 45
Vermont 29
Maryland 29
Maine 19
New York 18
Pennsylvania 4
Rhode Island 3
South Carolina 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 262 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Spalding in American newspapers,
1881–1882.

Newspaper page from St. Landry Democrat carrying the name Spalding
St. Landry Democrat 1881-10-01
Newspaper page from The People And New Hampshire Patriot carrying the name Spalding
The People And New Hampshire Patriot 1882-04-27
Newspaper page from Oxford Democrat carrying the name Spalding
Oxford Democrat 1882-05-30

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 287,114 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Spalding in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

15,241 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Spalding. The most, 3,119, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 4,856
New South Wales 4,596
Victoria 3,151
Western Australia 1,526
South Australia 831
Tasmania 239
ACT (Canberra) 19
Northern Territory 5

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Spalding.

Who carried it

People named Spalding,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Johan Spalding 1600–1667 · civil servant
  • Jakob Spalding 1625–1676 · civil servant
  • Gabriel Spalding 1642–1687 · civil servant
  • Benjamin Spalding 1643–1713
  • Margaret Spalding 1649–
  • Christina Spalding 1656–1721

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Spalding,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States823 records

823 records of the Spalding name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 307
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 158
  • Other U.S. records 358
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Gabriel C. Spalding

    Born 1920 in Kentucky. Enlisted 1944 at Louisville; farmer from Marion County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Louisville, Kentucky.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William E. Spalding

    Born 1914 in Kentucky. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; porter from Jefferson County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1960, buried at New Albany National Cemetery, Indiana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Aaron Bernard Spalding

    Born 1945; from Louisville, Kentucky. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; died in an accident 1967 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 823 records for Spalding in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia410 records

410 records of the Spalding name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 240
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 74
  • Other Australian records 96
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Joseph Spalding

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Clyde, arriving 1832; ticket of leave 1836. Native of Derby.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Spalding

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Benicia, aged 31; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John T. Spalding

    Laborer of Cressy, Victoria; died 1953.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 410 records for Spalding in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

United Kingdom55 records

55 records of the Spalding name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 28
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 12
  • Other British records 15
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Caird Spalding

    Buried in 1918 at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 50.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Simon Spalding

    Buried in 1849 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 96.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. Spalding

    Suffolk Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 55 records for Spalding in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada48 records

48 records of the Spalding name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 12
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 25
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Rich Spalding

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Sarmatian, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Annie Spalding

    Died 1987, aged 77; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thomas Spalding

    Buried in 1979 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 83.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 48 records for Spalding in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Germany23 records

23 records of the Spalding name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 22
  • German emigration and citizenship files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hermann Spalding

    From Hanover. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 4 September 1918; then reported taken prisoner in the list of 1 April 1919 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 20).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Hermann Gustav Spälding

    Naturalised in 1895.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Konrad Spalding

    From Remmen, Schlochau. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 29 November 1914 (Reserve Jäger Battalion No. 15).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Spalding in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands8 records

8 records of the Spalding name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alice Matilda Mardling Spalding

    Died 1953 in Rotterdam, aged 54.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Pauline Ruth Spalding

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born in Batavia.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Rudolf Spalding

    In the population register of Nijmegen; born 1893.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Nijmegen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Spalding in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand2 records

2 records of the Spalding name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 1
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alexander Spalding

    Died 1932, aged 54; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Rosetta Margaret Spalding

    Died 1956, aged 79; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Spalding name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Madeleine Anne Marie Spalding

    Born 1905 in Cauderan (Gironde); died 1990 in Champcueil (Essonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Adolphe Charles Armand Spalding

    Born 1895 in Strasbourg; died 1978 in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Spalding.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Spalding is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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