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The Spence surname derives from the Old French word "despense," from the Latin "dispendere" meaning "to dispense;" as such, it is thought to have been an metonymic occupational surname for someone in charge of the pantry of a great house or monastery. The Middle English word "spense" means "larder" or "storeroom."

In Scotland, Clan Spens or Spence is a Lowland Scottish clan and is also a sept of Clan MacDuff. They principles of the Clan descend from one of the ancient Earls of Fife and first appears in records with John 'Dispensator' or 'Le Dispenser' appearingd in a list of the tenants and vassals of Walter fitz Alan Steward of Scotland on the period 1161–1171.

It has been identified that our branch of the Spence family originates in Berwick Scotland in the early 1700s.  

The earliest known ancestor is John Spence. It is his great great granddaughter Lillias Cockburn who emigrated to Australia with her family in 1883.

My Spence ancestry goes back 9 generations and biographies exist for some members as indicated by links 

• John Spence ~ 1713 ~1713 - ? married Margaret Thompson
  • Alexander Spence 1745 - ? married Margaret Renwick
    •  Margaret Spence 1791 - ? and George Cockburn
      • Mary Spence Murray married ~1826 - 1898 married Adam Cockburn
        • Lillias Cockburn 1855 - 1927 married Joseph Charles Kitching
          • Joan Kitching 1879 - 1951 married George E Hardie
            • Douglas James Hardie 1917 - 2012 married Doreen Bain
              • My father