Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
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".
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’
Stancil EnglishEnglish habitational name from a place so named in South Yorkshire.
Stancliff EnglishHabitational name from Scout in Northowram (Yorkshire) recorded as Staynclif in 1309 and Stancliff Skoute (the home of Edward Stankliff) in 1536. The placename derives from Old English
stan 1 "stone rock" with influence from Old Norse
steinn "stone rock" and Old English
clif "cliff bank" later with Middle English scoute "projecting cliff overhanging rock" (Old Norse
skúti).
Standen EnglishHabitational name predominantly from Standen in Pendleton (Lancashire) and Standean in Ditchling (Sussex) but also from other places similarly named including Standen in East Grinstead (Sussex) Standen in Biddenden (Kent) Standen in Benenden (Kent) Upper and Lower Standen in Hawkinge (Kent) Standen (Berkshire Wiltshire Isle of Wight) and Standon (Devon Hampshire Hertfordshire Staffordshire)... [
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Standish EnglishHabitational name Standish (Lancashire Now Part Of Greater Manchester, and Yorkshire) meaning Old English Stān ‘Stone Rock’ + Edisc ‘Enclosure; or Enclosed Park’.
Stang German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) from Middle High German
stang, German
Stange ‘pole’, ‘shaft’, hence a nickname for a tall, thin person, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of wooden shafts for spears and the like, or a metonymic occupational name for a soldier.
Stanikzai PashtoOf unknown meaning. The Stanikzai are a Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan.
Stanisławski PolishName for someone from any of various places named Stanisław, Stanisławów or Stanisławice, derived from the given name
Stanisław.
Stannard EnglishFrom the medieval personal name
Stanhard, literally "stone-strong" or "stone-brave".
Stansfield English (British)Habitational name from a place in West Yorkshire, probably named with the genitive case of the Old English personal name
Stan 1 "stone" and Old English
feld "pasture, open country"... [
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Stantz GermanPossibly an altered spelling of German
Stanz, a habitation name from places called Stans or Stanz in Austria and Switzerland (see also
Stentz).
Stanwick EnglishHabitational name from a place so called in Northamptonshire, named in Old English with stan ‘stone’ + wic ‘outlying dairy farm’.
Stanwyck EnglishVariant spelling of
Stanwick. This name was borne by the American actress, model and dancer Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990).
Stapleford EnglishHabitational name from any of a number of places, in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Wiltshire, so named from Old English stapol meaning "post" + ford meaning "ford".
Star German, JewishMeans "starling (bird)" in German, probably denoting a talkative or perhaps a voracious person. Alternatively, an Anglicized form of
Stern 2.
Star DutchMeans "stiff, frozen, rigid" in Dutch, from Middle Dutch
staer "having a troubled or gloomy expression; tight, stiff", a nickname either for a gloomy person or for someone who was rigid and inflexible.
Starbuck EnglishAfter Starbeck village in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. A famous bearer of this name was the fictional character, Starbuck, the first mate of the Pequod in Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick.
Starikov RussianFrom a nickname for a person who was long-lived or wise, derived from Russian старик
(starik) meaning "old man".
Starkey English, GermanFrom a diminutive of
Stark. This surname is borne by the English musician Sir Richard Starkey (1940-), also known as Ringo Starr.
Starling EnglishFrom a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a starling, especially in constantly chattering.
Starobrat Polish (Rare)Possibly comprised of the Polish elements
stary "old" deriving from Proto-Slavic
*starъ and
brat "brother" deriving from Proto-Slavic
*bràtrъ or
*bràtъ.
Start EnglishHabitational name from any of the various minor places named from Old English
steort "tail".
State GermanNickname from Middle High German stæt(e) meaning "firm", "steadfast", "constant".
Staub German (Swiss), German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational nickname for a miller, from Middle High German
stoup, German
Staub ‘dust’. The Jewish surname may also be ornamental.
St Aubin FrenchEither a habitational name from any of several places in France called
Saint-Aubin (from the dedication of their churches to Saint
Albinus), or else a nickname with
Saint as an (ironic) prefix to the personal name or surname
Aubin.
Stauch GermanFrom Middle High German
stuche, a term used to denote both a type of wide sleeve and a headcovering. Also a habitational name from a place called Staucha, near Dresden.
Stauffer GermanThis surname refers either to various towns named Stauffen or else it might be derived from Middle High German
stouf "high rock/cliff/crag".
Stavig NorwegianCombination of Old Norse
stafr "pole" and
vik "bay". This was the name of a farmstead in Norway.
Stavonin RussianOriginally Stavnin (shutter-maker), Stavonin resulted from an incorrect spelling that stuck (for over a hundred years)... [
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