SPENS
Spens
The surname Spens is of Old English origin, derived from the pre-7th Century word "spenn", meaning 'peg' or 'pin'. It is an occupational name for a maker of pegs or pins.
The Spens family has a long history in Scotland, with the surname first recorded in Berwickshire in the 13th century. The family held lands in the Scottish lowlands and produced several notable individuals over the centuries.
One of the most famous bearers of the Spens surname was Sir Patrick Spens, a medieval Scottish admiral who features in an old Scottish ballad. The ballad tells the tragic story of Sir Patrick Spens and his crew who perished at sea while on a mission for the king.
The Spens family crest features a red hand holding three ears of wheat, denoting plenty and prosperity.
Today, the Spens surname is not as common as some other Scottish surnames but continues to be borne by descendants of the ancient Spens lineage.
There are approximately 136 people named Spens in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Spens.