Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Spaans DutchEither a patronymic from the archaic given name
Spaan, of uncertain etymology, or an occupational name derived from Middle Dutch
spaen "wood chip, piece of wood; spoon, spatula".
Spacek PolishThis is the surname of American actress Sissy Spacek (born December 25, 1949).
Spadafora ItalianVariant form of
Spatafora. Spadafora is the younger out of the two surnames and yet the most common of the two, which might partly be because it is a little bit more italianized... [
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Spader GermanOccupational name for a spade maker or for someone who used a spade in his work, derived from Middle High or Middle Low German
spade. A notable bearer is American actor
James Spader (1960-).
Spages IrishMost likely an Irish surname. It was used in the 1976 movie Alice, Sweet Alice.
Spagna ItalianFrom Italian
spagna "Spain" for a Spaniard or someone who had connections to Spain. Also from the female given name of the same meaning, Italian cognitive of
Spain.
Spah German (?), English (American)Spah (sometimes spelt Späh) is last name found most commonly in the US that is believed to be of German origin. Unsure of the meaning.
Spallone ItalianFrom
spalla "shoulder, back", indicating someone who carried things on their shoulders. The modern translation is "smuggler". Alternately, may be an elaboration of
Spalla.
Spangler GermanSpangler is an occupational surname for "metal worker" having derived from the German word
spange, meaning a clasp or buckle of the sort such a craftsman might have designed.
Spargo CornishCornish: habitational name from Higher or Lower Spargo, in the parish of Mabe, so named from Cornish spern ‘thorn bushes’ + cor ‘enclosure'.
Sparrow EnglishEnglish: nickname from Middle English
sparewe ‘sparrow’, perhaps for a small, chirpy person, or else for someone bearing some fancied physical resemblance to a sparrow.
Spatafora ItalianThis surname originates from the Italian island of Sicily, where it was first borne by a noble family of Byzantine origin, which had settled on the island in the 11th century AD. Their surname was derived from the Greek noun σπάθη
(spathe) "blade, sword" (akin to Latin
spatha "broad sword with a double edge") combined with Greek φορεω
(phoreo) "to carry, to bear", which gives the surname the meaning of "he who carries the sword" or "sword-bearer"... [
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Späth GermanDerived from Middle High German
spæte "late".
Spaugh GermanWas originally "Spach," was changed when first introduced into America
Speakman EnglishEnglish (chiefly Lancashire) nickname or occupational name for someone who acted as a spokesman, from Middle English
spekeman ‘advocate’, ‘spokesman’ (from Old English
specan to speak +
mann ‘man’).
Speca ItalianFrom a variant of
spiga "spike, ear (of grain)"
Speck GermanVariant of
Specker as well as a locational surname from one of various places called Speck, Specke and Specken in northern Germany and Spöck in southern Germany, as well as an occupational surname derived from German
Speck "bacon" denoting a butcher who sepcialized in the production of bacon, as well as a derisive nickname for a corpulent person.
Spector JewishFrom Polish
szpektor meaning "teacher's assistant (in a Jewish school)", ultimately from
inspektor meaning "supervisor".
Speed EnglishA nickname for a fortunate person, from Middle English
sped, "success".
Speicher Germanoccupational name for someone in charge of a granary. From middle high German
spicher meaning "grain store".
Spellbody LiteratureUsed in Jill Murphy's books,
The Worst Witch, as well as the 2017 television adaptation for the surname of Maud Spellbody. It is a combination of "spell" and "body".
Spender EnglishOccupational name for a paymaster or someone in charge of finances, from Old English
spendan "to spend" and Latin
expendere "to pay out".
Spendlove EnglishFrom a medieval nickname for someone who spread their amorous affections around freely. A different form of the surname was borne by Dora Spenlow, the eponymous hero's "child-wife" in Charles Dickens's 'David Copperfield' (1849-50).... [
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Spengler GermanOccupational surname literally meaning “metal worker” or “tin knocker”.
Sperber German, JewishFrom a nickname for a small but belligerent person from Middle High German
sperwære "sparrow hawk" (Old High German
sparwāri a compound of
sparw "sparrow" and āri "eagle").
Spering EnglishThere is a fish in Germany or Austria names "Spering or Spiering fish" it is in the meat Isle of Germany orAustrian fish.... [
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Speroni ItalianEither a Plural form of
sperone "spur" an occupation for a spurrier or from the given name
Gaspare.
Spezia ItalianMeans "spice, drug" in Italian. It was used to denote someone who worked as a spicer or apothecary.
Spice EnglishFrom Middle English
spice meaning "spice", referring to a spice dealer or an apothecary.
Spicer English, Jewish, PolishEnglish: occupational name for a seller of spices, Middle English
spic(i)er (a reduced form of Old French
espicier, Late Latin
speciarius, an agent derivative of
species ‘spice’, ‘groceries’, ‘merchandise’).... [
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Spiegel German, JewishMetonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German
spiegel, German
Spiegel "mirror" (via Old High German from Latin
speculum, a derivative of
specere "to look").
Spiegler German, JewishOccupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German
spiegel, German
Spiegel "mirror" and the agent suffix
-er.
Spielberg Jewish, GermanFrom Old High German
spiegel "lookout point" or German
Spiel "game, play" and
berg "mountain". Locational surname after a town in Austria. A famous bearer is American director Steven Spielberg (1946-present).
Spieler German, JewishOccupational Name For A Tumbler Or Jester German Spieler ‘Player’ Middle High German Spilære An Agent Derivative Of Spiln ‘To Play To Jest To Sport’.
Spier EnglishAn English surname, meaning "the one who watches".
Spies GermanWhile it translates to the plural of "spy" in English, Spies is a semi-common name found throughout Germany and the surrounding nations. This surname is also popular throughout states with a high German population.
Spijk DutchPossibly a habitational name from any of several locations called
Spijk, derived from Old Dutch
spich "headland, spit".
Spillman EnglishFrom the medieval male personal name
Spileman, literally "acrobat" or "jester" (from a derivative of Middle English
spillen "to play, cavort").
Spina ItalianMeans "thorn" in Italian, originally a topographic name for someone who lived by a thorn bush or a habitational name from any of various locations called Spina.
Spindler English, German, JewishOccupational name for a spindle maker, from an agent derivative of Middle English
spindle, Middle High German
spindel, German
Spindel, Yiddish
shpindl "spindle, distaff".
Spinelli ItalianVariant of
Spina, of uncertain etymology: could be related to several place names in Italy, to given names such as
Crispino, or to the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus.
Spínola PortuguesePortuguese topographic name from a diminutive of
espinha ‘thorn’, ‘thorn bush’.
Spinola ItalianItalian (Liguria) diminutive of
Spina. Italian topographic name for someone living by Monte Spinola in the province of Pavia.
Spinosa ItalianMost likely from Italian
spinosa meaning "prickly, thorny, spiny, ticklish, touchy".
Spiridonov RussianThe surname was formed by adding the patronymic suffix -ov to the ancient Greek ecclesiastical name of the founder of the family, Spiridon (possibly from the Latin word meaning "illegitimate").
Spiteri MalteseThe surname Spiteri is derived from the Latin word "hospitalieri" meaning hospitaliers. It was initially given to babies born to mothers who worked as nurses at the Knights' hospital during the 16th century where the babies' fathers were usually knights who had been treated at said hospital.
Splendente ItalianFrom Italian
splendente "bright, shining", supposedly given to an infants abandoned at orphanages on sunny days.
Splinter Low German, GermanFrom Low German splinter ‘splinter’; probably a metonymic occupational name for a woodworker.
Spohr GermanOccupational name for a maker of spurs, from Middle High German spor ‘spur’, or a topographic name, from Middle High German spor ‘spoor’, ‘animal tracks’.... [
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Spoon EnglishApparently a metonymic occupational name either for a maker of roofing shingles or spoons, from Old English
spon "chip, splinter" (see also
Spooner).
Spoonapple Popular CultureEdwina Spoonapple is a fictional character and the titular character from the Off-Broadway musical "Dear Edwina" (2008). She is a 13-year-old girl who wants proof of her accomplishments, just like her siblings... [
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Spoor English, DutchFrom Middle Dutch and Middle English
spoor "spur", an occupational name for a maker or seller of spurs.
Spoors EnglishFrom Middle English
spoor "spur", an occupational name for someone who made spurs, or perhaps a nickname for someone known for wearing them.
Sprague EnglishEnglish from northern Middle English
Spragge, either a personal name or a byname meaning "lively", a metathesized and voiced form of "spark."
Spring GermanFrom Middle High German
sprinc, Middle Low German
sprink "spring, well", hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or well, or habitational name from Springe near Hannover.
Springall EnglishMeans (i) "operator of a springald (a type of medieval siege engine)" (from Anglo-Norman
springalde); or (ii) from a medieval nickname for a youthful person (from Middle English
springal "youth").
Springborn GermanDerived from Middle Low German
sprinkborn meaning "spring, well", hence either a nickname for someone who lived by a spring or a water well, or from various place names in Germany.
Springer German, English, Dutch, JewishNickname for a lively person or for a traveling entertainer, from
springen "to jump, to leap". A famous bearer was Ludwig der Springer (AKA Louis the Springer), a medieval Franconian count who, according to legend, escaped from a second or third-story prison cell by jumping into a river after being arrested for trying to seize County Saxony in Germany.
Springer EnglishAn occupational name for a dancer, or perhaps a hunter, from either Old English
springen "to leap" or Middle English
springe "snare, trap".
Sprout EnglishThis name is derived from the name of an ancestor, meaning "the son of Sprot".... [
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Spruance EnglishPossibly a variant of
Spruce. A notable bearer was Raymond A. Spruance (1886-1969), a United States Navy admiral during World War II.
Spruijt DutchMeans "sprout" in Dutch, originally a nickname for a young person or a descendant of a wealthy, powerful or important family.
Spry EnglishWas apparently a nickname for an active, brisk, or smart person. The word
spry is of obscure origin.
Spurrier EnglishDerived from the Old French word “esperonier,” meaning “to spur on”. It was likely given as a nickname to someone who was known for encouraging or motivating others. The name could have also referred to someone who was skilled at using spurs to control horses.
Squibb EnglishNickname for an irascible, unpredictable or petty person, derived from Middle English
squibbe meaning "firework, firecracker". A famous bearer is the American actress June Squibb (1929-).
Squire EnglishSurname comes from the occupation of a Squire. A young man who tends to a knight.
Squires EnglishSurname is plural of Squire. A young person that tends to his knight, also someone that is a member of a landowner class that ranks below a knight.
Srisuwan ThaiFrom Thai ศรี
(si) meaning "glory, honour, splendour" combined with สุวรรณ
(suwan) meaning "gold".
Sroka PolishFrom the Polish word
sroka, meaning "magpie".
Staaf SwedishDerived from various place names beginning with
stav- or
staf-, often meaning "boundary marker" when used in place names. Other meanings are possible. Also found occasionally as a soldier's name pre-20th century... [
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Staal DutchFrom Old Dutch
stal meaning "steel", a metonymic occupational name for a steelworker or blacksmith.
Stackhouse Englishhabitational name from Stackhouse in Giggleswick (Yorkshire) from Old Norse
stakkr "stack pile rick" and
hus "house".
Stadtmueller GermanFrom Middle High German stet meaning "place", "town" + müller meaning "miller", hence an occupational name for a miller who ground the grain for a town.
Stahl German, DanishMetonymic occupational name for a smith or armorer, from Middle High German
stahel "steel, armor".
Stahler GermanOccupational name for a foundry worker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German stal 'steel'.
Stahling German (Rare)Denoted a person who worked with steel. Derived from the name "Stähling", which was derived from "Stalin."
Staley BelgianFrom Old French
estalee "fish trap", hence possibly a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman, or topographic name for someone who lived near where fish traps were set.
Stålhammar SwedishMeans "steel hammer" (from Swedish
stål "steel" and
hammare "hammer"). Was originally a name common among blacksmiths.
Stallard EnglishByname for a valiant or resolute person, from a reduced pronunciation of Middle English
stalward,
stalworth "stalwart" (an Old English compound of
stǣl "place" and
wierðe "worthy").
Stallman GermanVariant of Staller. German: topographic name for someone who lived in a muddy place, from the dialect word stal. English: habitational name from Stalmine in Lancashire, named probably with Old English stæll 'creek', 'pool' + Old Norse mynni 'mouth'.
Stallone Italianfrom
stallone "stallion" applied either as a nickname for someone thought to resemble a stallion or as a metonymic occupational name for someone who bred horses. from an augmentative of
stalla "stable stall" used as a topographic name and as a habitational name from any of the minor places called with this word.... [
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Stalton EnglishEtymology uncertain. Possibly derived from a place name, as the last element resembles the suffix
-ton "town".
Stam DutchMeans "trunk (of a tree), stem" in Dutch, a nickname for a blocky or heavily built man.
Stampone ItalianMeaning uncertain. Possibly from Italian
stampare "to print, to stamp", or from Tuscan
stampo "tree stump".
Stanaway EnglishPossibly a variant form of English Stanway, a habitational name from any of the places called Stanaway, in Essex, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, all named with Old English stān ‘stone’ + weg ‘track’, ‘road’