Spence
An occupational surname for someone who managed the pantry or food stores of a household or estate.
The #964 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,546 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Spence comes from Middle English spence or spens, ultimately from Old French despense and Medieval Latin dispensa, meaning a pantry, larder, or place where provisions were kept. The root is Latin dispendere, "to weigh out," reflecting the idea of distributing food or supplies. In surname use, it likely named the person in charge of the provision room, buttery, or pantry.
History
Medieval records show the name in forms such as del Spens and de la Spence, which fit the common pattern of household-office surnames. It is closely related to Spencer and other names tied to domestic roles like Pantry or Kitchener. The surname later spread widely in Britain and to English-speaking countries overseas.
Origin
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Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older writers sometimes glossed the job title as the keeper of the buttery or provision room rather than a modern-day storehouse manager.
From the historical record
“2for Spillman', q.v. SPENCE (A.-Fr.-Lat.) Keeper of or Assistant in a Provision-Room or Buttery [M.E. spence, spens(e, O.Fr. despense, L.Lat. dispensa, larder ; f. Lat. dispendere, to weigh out] Thomas del Spens. — Pat,Rolls,Pi..'D.izJ,o. Al vinolent [full of wine] as hotel in the spence. —”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)