The Spain surname is relatively rare. The earliest known Spain in the American colonies appeared in the 1600's in the Virginia Patent records: John Spaine, followed by Thomas Spain. A group of "cousins" began collaboration of research in order to identify the branches of the family who lived in the Southeastern Virginia counties. Bolstered by family lore, this group has identified at least three family migrations, some into Ohio, some into the Carolinas, and some into Tennessee.