The best way I know of to determine a surname's frequency in a particular county is to use the Griffith's Valuation. I took a look to see what was listed and to my surprise there were no SPALDING or SPAULDINGs listed in all of Ireland. Then I looked in "The Book of Irish Families - Great and Small" by IGF O'Lochlainn and neither name was listed in that book, as well. It must be a name of English origin, like my husband's SPENCERs. You may want to consider renting some of the Civil Registration films to see where the births/marriages/deaths for SPALDING/SPAULDING occured most frequently. Nancy List owner, IRL-CAVAN, IRL-MEATH, L E D D Y-L, S H A N L E Y-L At 09:00 AM 1/22/01 -0800, you wrote: > >I am new to the list, but I am hoping that someone can comment on the >frequency of the surname Spalding or Spaulding in Westmeath. I am trying to >search my wife's family for our newborn son, James. > >So far, I have only discovered that her great, great, great grandfather, >James Spaulding, was born in County Westmeath on 8 September 1819 to Patrick >and Bridget Spaulding. He and his parents arrived in New York, New York on >19 August 1839, and they then moved to Boston. > >Does anyone know if this name is common in Westmeath, or does it exist in >only a few parishes? From the IGI, I was able to find a John Spalding, who >was married in 1866 at Roman Catholic Chapel, St. Mary's Parish By Athlone, >Westmeath. I am wondering if this may be their parish. > >Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, since I am new to this. > >Thanks, > >Jim Bayard >Wareham, Massachusetts > >