Surname Anspach - Meaning and Origin

Anspach: What does the surname Anspach mean?

The surname Anspach is of German origin, and likely derives from the Middle High German word 'enspach', which can mean a marshy or muddy area. The name may originally have been given to someone who lived in a marsh, or it may have been a nickname for a slow or clumsy person.

The spelling of the name has changed over time, and can be found as Anspah, Anspack, Anspach, and Anspaugh. In some cases, it has also been found spelled as Anspaugh and Anspach; although these versions are more common in the US, they are much less likely to be found in Germany.

Anspach is one of the most common surnames in Germany, and is one of the country's oldest families names. It is currently held by approximately 66,000 people, primarily in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, where it ranks in the top 500 surnames.

In the United States, Anspach is considerably less common, particularly in comparison with other German surnames. It is still found throughout the country, however, and is especially prominent in northeastern states such as New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

In addition to its use as a surname, the name Anspach is also occasionally used as a given name, though it remains relatively uncommon. It is most likely to be encountered in areas with a significant German population.

Anspach: Where does the name Anspach come from?

Anspach is a German-origin surname that is most commonly found in Germany and other neighboring countries. It is also a fairly common surname in certain parts of the United States where it has been adopted as an anglicized version of its original spelling.

Today, Anspach is particularly common in Pennsylvania, the Palatinate region of Germany, and the Flemish provinces of Belgium. It is estimated that as many as 65,000 people with the surname Anspach live in the United States today, most of which trace their roots back to these German-speaking regions of Europe.

Within Pennsylvanian, Anspach is especially common in the Lancaster and Lehigh Valleys, two areas which have a long history of German immigration. The earliest settlers with this surname arrived in these areas of Pennsylvania during the mid-1600s. Many of these were immigrants from the Palatinate region of Germany.

The Anspach surname is also quite common today in the Netherlands, particularly in the eastern provinces and in North Brabant. There is also a concentrated group of people with this surname in eastern France.

Overall, it is likely that the last name Anspach is still the most common in the German-speaking areas of Europe. Those looking to trace their Anspach ancestors might find the best results in the Palatinate region of western Germany, and in the transnational region of Flandern, which encompasses parts of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Anspach

The surname Anspach is a North German, Austrian and Dutch topographic name for someone living near a hollow or depression in the ground, derived from the Middle Low German word, ‘anspach’.

Variants of Anspach include Anspachs, Anspache, Anspacker, Anspagi, and Anspachmann. These variants primarily occur in Germany.

Names derived from the same origin as Anspach, but which have evolved by either orthographical or phonetic changes, include Anspacher, Anspachinger, Anspachter, Anspag, and Anspah.

In the United States, spellings of Anspach including Anspeck, Anspekka, Anspaugh, and Anspachmann are found in the historical records.

Surnames derived from Anspach include Anspacher, Anspack, Anspag, Anspacher, Anspachter, Anspachmann, Anspaeck, Anspaecken, Anspeck, Anspecka, Anspegh, Anspieh, and Anspi.

Some members of the Anspach family adopted the surname Anspaden in the 19th century, as well as the Dutch version of the name, Anstee.

Additionally, some Anspach families also adopted the Americanized spelling of Anspach, Anspaugh.

In conclusion, many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin exist for the surname Anspach, from Germanic and Dutch sources.

Famous people with the name Anspach

• Stephen Anspach: Is a computer scientist and professor at the University of San Francisco.
• Sabina Anspach: Is an American actress, best known for her work in the television series, Mad Men.
• Nancy Anspach: Is an American actress, who has had starring roles in the television shows, St. Elsewhere, Northern Exposure, and Grey's Anatomy.
• John Anspach: Is an American director, producer, and editor, best known for directing the films Human Traffic and Hostage.
• Mark Anspach: Is an American screenwriter best known for his work on the films Apollo 13, The Negotiator, The Hunted, and The Incredible Hulk.
• Kate Anspach: Is a British actress, best known for her work in the television series, Inspector Morse.
• Jill Anspach: Is an American actress, best known for her work in the television series, Guiding Light.
• Andrew Anspach: Is a Canadian composer and guitarist, best known for his work on the films Southern Comfort, The Boondock Saints, and The Bone Collector.
• Richard Anspach: Is an American actor, best known for his work in the television series, Crime Story.
• Ed Anspach: Is an American actor, best known for his work on the television series, Picket Fences.

Other surnames

Anspacher