Spaulding is an uncommon given name of American origin. It is derived from the English surname 'Spalding,' which is believed to have originated as a habitational name from places called Spaldwick in Huntingdonshire and Lincolnshire. These place names are composed of the Old Norse elements 'spalli,' meaning 'spear,' and '-ingas,' denoting 'people of.' Thus, Spaulding could be interpreted as 'the people of the spear settlement.' The name has a strong historical association with New England, where it was brought by early settlers. Today, Spaulding is rarely used as a first name but may still appear occasionally in families with long-standing ties to these regions.
The name Spaulding was bestowed upon five newborns in the year 1920.