The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname
Sprague

The name Sprague has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person who because of their physical abilities was referred to as Sprack. This nickname surname was used to denote those individuals who were agile and quite lively. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Spelling variations include: Spragg, Spragge, Sprague, Sprake, Sprigg, Spriggs and many more. First found in Gloucestershire where they were seated from very ancient times, as Lords of the manor, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John Spragg who settled in New England in 1765; Richard Spragg arrived in Philadelphia in 1814; Anna, Francis, Jonathon, Mercy, Ralph, Richard and William Sprague all settled in Plymouth Mass. in 1623.