William Spurrell was born 13 Quay Street, Carmarthen, and was the third son of Richard Spurrell, who was clerk to the county magistrates and held other public offices in Carmarthen, and Elizabeth Margaretta Thomas.
William's grandfather John Spurrell had been an auctioneer in Bath and was the first member of the family to move to Wales.
They had eleven children, including: Spurrell attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen, until age 16.
In November 1830, Spurrell began an apprenticeship with John Pritchard Davies, printer, of King Street, Carmarthen, where he remained for five years.
[3] Established at Llandovery by David Owen (Brutus), this was one of the few Welsh language periodicals to adopt an Anglican and Conservative perspective at a time when nonconformism and the Liberal Party were becoming increasingly prevalent in Welsh society.