How the Spendlove family name evolved
How the Spendlove family got its name and what the name means. The surname Spendlove appears to be characteristic in origin. Research indicates that it can be associated with the English meaning. one who is amorous. Although this interpretation is the result of onomastic research, you may find other meanings for the Spendlove family name. Many surnames have more than one origin.
English: nickname for someone who was free with his affections, from Middle English spend(en) ?to spend or squander? + love ?love?.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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From a book of English surnames but unfortunately can't remember which one. The meaning was given as being derived from the French "espand de loup = disemboweled of wolves. As some Spendlove families seem to have originated from the Rockingham Forest area of the UK this might suggest that the name evolved from the occupation described above - there would have been wolves in that area in the time of the Norman Conquest and wolf hides/pelts would have been used as bed coverings etc which would have required the wolves to have been disemboweled and skinned (presumably).
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When you do more extensive research on the Spendlove name you may have difficulty finding it with the exact spelling which is in use today. It, in fact, may have been spelt differently hundreds of years ago. The more research you do, the more likely you will find different spellings. Language changes, carelessness and a high degree of illiteracy (sometimes the man himself did not know how to spell his own name) compounded the number of ways a name might be spelt. Often the town clerk spelt the name the way it sounded to him.
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Spelling Variations of the Family Name
Spelling Variations of the Family Name, the different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence, it is not surprising that dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spellings variations of the Spendlove surname to be Spenlove, Spindelow, Spenlow,Spendelowe or Spendelove.
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Naming Patterns
Naming Patterns in England, 1700-1875
1st son -- father's father
2nd son -- mother's father
3rd son -- father
4th son -- father's eldest brother
1st daughter -- mother's mother
2nd daughter -- father's mother
3rd daughter -- mother
4th daughter -- mother's eldest sister
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Younger children would be named after earlier ancestors, but the pattern in their case was more varied.
One variation from the above was for the eldest son to be named after the mother's father and the eldest daughter after the father's mother. In this case the second son would be named after the father's father and the second daughter after the mother's mother. Occasionally the second son and daughter would be named after the father and mother instead of the third son and daughter. Another variation was to name the third daughter after one of the great-grandmothers instead of after the mother. In such a case, the fourth daughter would usually be named after the mother.
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