This surname of Northern English and Scottish origin, is possibly patronymic from the Old English, pre 7th Century byname 'Sped' meaning 'Success' or 'Prosperity' plus 'ing' 'son(s) of' or 'dependants of' hence 'the son(s) of Sped'. The name dates back to the early 16th Century (see below). Further recordings include one William Speiding, a smith in Galloscheills 'Records of the Regality of Melrose' (1600). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Speddin, Speeding, Speedin, Speenden, etc.. One Robert Speeding was married to Alice Kastell at St. James, Dukes Place, London, on February 20th 1689. Catherine Spedding was christened at St. Paul, Covent Garden, London, on November 11th 1692. One James Spedding (1808 - 1881) editor of Bacon's Works, was educated at Bury Street, Edmunds and Trinity College, Cambridge. He also held a temporary post in colonial office. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Spedane, which was dated 1502, at the 'Criminal Trials of Scotland', during the reign of King Henry V11, known as 'Henry Tudor', 1485 - 1509. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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