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Hello and welcome to the home page of Jeff and Angela Miller.
This page is dedicated to my favorite hobby Genealogy... I also dedicate this page
to my Beloved Mother and friend Judy and my Great Aunt Ruth. No words can tell you what
they both have meant to me and other members of the family. Judy and Ruth both started my
journey down this path and helped me more they could have ever known. I was blessed to
have them both in my life. Their insight and stories always intrigued me to dig deeper in
the history of our Sprouse family. Finally I thank God, for whom without him none of this
is possible. Remember your heritage, because without it, life is boring.
Judith Williams Miller (1946-2006)
Ruth Sprouse Maupin (1913-1997)
A special thank you to my distant cousins,
without there help I could not have been unable to complete my direct line of Sprouse's
(well most of it). Finally, to all of you who have made this page possible by sharing all
your wonderful information.
ORIGIN OF THE SPROUSE NAME
The Sprouse surname is a comparatively rare name, and
appears to be characteristic in origin. Research indicates that it can be associated with
the English and Dutch, meaning, "one who spoke in a slow, drawling voice". The
Sprouse name may have been spelled differently years ago. It is possible to find several
different spellings. Language changes, carelessness and a high degree of illiteracy
compounded the the number of ways a name might be spelled. Often the town clerk spelled
the name the way it sounded to him. Some people Americanized their names when they came to
this country so they would not be thought of as foreigners. Many new residents to America
couldn't write their names, so officials wrote down what they thought they heard.
Dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spelling variations of the Sprouse surname to
be Sproul, Sproule, Sprowl, Sprowles, Spruce, Spruse, Spross, Sprosse, Sprout, and
Sprouses. Bearers of the old distinguished Sprouse name comprise a small percentage of
people living in the United States. There may be a large number of relatives who use one
of the Sprouse name variations. (unknown source)
COAT OF ARMS
The Sprouse Coat of Arms as well as the arms for most
American names are associated primarily with European medieval culture and has been
recorded in heraldic archives. Originally, Coat of Arms were issued to and registered for
individuals. Under most heraldic rules, only first sons of first sons of the recipient of
a Coat of Arms are permitted to bear their ancestor's arms. Younger sons may use a version
of their father's arms, but the rules of heraldry say that they must be changed
("differed") somewhat. If the bearer of a Coat of Arms (called an
"Arminger") dies without male heirs, his daughter may combine her father's arms
with her husband's arms. This process is called "impaling". Because of the rules
of heraldry there was undoubtedly more than one Sprouse Coat of Arms. (unknown source)
My Sprouse/Sprouce line who's name is seen spelled either way. Was
first seen in the areas of current day Albemarle, Fluvanna, Goochland and Louisa counties
in Virginia. It is also believed that these Sprouse families are the ancestors for many of
the early Sprouse families in the United States.
It has to be noted that a large portion of the records for the
1700's and 1800's in Virginia were destroyed between the 1770's and 1810's. This was
during the very turbulent times during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Therefore
only a sketchy picture has been able to be found on early members of the Sprouse family.
In 1800 there is another Sprouse family that migrated to Albemarle County
from Culpeper County after changing there name from Prout to Sprouse (reason for name
change is unknown). This family if known to the other Sprouse family, married into each
other adding to the confusion.
Click Here To Begin Your Sprouse Research
Other Families I'm researching include:
Byerly - 1700's Dauphin Co., Pa - Ross Co., Ohio
1800's
Carder - 1700's Huntington Co., W.Va. - Ross Co., 1800's
Dale - 1800's -1900's Ray Co., Missouri
Drinkwine - 1800's - 1900's Wisconsin
Edlund - 1900's Wisconsin - Minnesota
Ford - 1800's - 1900's Ross Co., Ohio
Fulton - 1700's Ireland - Lancaster-Chester Co., Pa -
Ross Co., Ohio
Irwin - 1700's Ireland - Lancaster-Chester Co., Pa -
Ross Co., Ohio
Keys - 1700' -1800's Ireland - Lancaster-Chester Co., Pa
Langford/Lankford - 1700's - 1900's Virginia - Albemarle
Co., Va.
Loofbourrow - 1600's - 1900's New Jersey - Penn -
Ohio
Maupin - 1600's - 1900's Virginia - Albemarle Co., Va.
Miller - 1800's Switzerland 1880's - 1900's Minnesota -
Wisconsin
Thacker - 1600's -1900's Virginia - Albemarle Co.,
Va.
Williams 1800's - 1900's Fayette, Pickaway, Ross Co.,
Ohio
 
Email Jeff Miller
THANKS FOR VISITING OUR WEB SITE
Copyright 1995-2010 Jeff and Angela Miller - All Rights
Reserved Permission is hereby granted for use of the information included herein for
Individual Personal Genealogical Research only. No use shall be made "for
profit" without the express written consent of the author. All backgrounds
and images used on this web page are believed to be non-copyrighted - free-use, if
otherwise please email me.
Last updated: October 2, 2010
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