When John Spencer 1st Earl of Spencer was born on 8 December 1733, in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, John Spencer, was 25 and his mother, Georgina Carolina Carteret, was 17. He married Margaret Georgiana Poyntz on 20 December 1755, in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. He died on 31 October 1783, in Bath St Michael, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, at the age of 49, and was buried in Great Brington, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom.
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English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name for someone who dispensed provisions or money, from Middle English spenser(e), spencer(e) ‘household steward, butler, almoner’ (Anglo-Norman French espenser, Old French despensier). Compare Spence and Spender . There is some dispute about the origins of the Spencer family, whose most famous member in recent times was the late Princess of Wales, born Lady Diana Spencer (1961–97). Some sources say that they are descended from William the Conqueror's steward, Robert Despencer. What is clear is that by the 15th century they had become prosperous from sheep farming in Northamptonshire. Robert Spencer (died 1627) was said to be the wealthiest man in England. Their titles have included Earls of Sunderland and Earls Spencer; and through the female line the 5th Earl of Sunderland also became Duke of Marlborough in 1733. This connection was the result of the marriage, in 1700, of the 3rd Duke of Sunderland to the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The youngest son of this union, John Spencer (1708–46), was the father of the 1st Earl Spencer (1734–83).
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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