Surname Spahn - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling my genetic heritage through the iGENEA DNA test, I have been whisked away on a journey through time, piecing together the ancient tapestry that forms my familial roots. The results have significantly transformed my understanding of my surname, Spahn, uplifting it from merely being a family name to a legacy of diverse cultures and historical epochs.
Z. Spahn
read moreSpahn: What does the surname Spahn mean?
The last name Spahn is a German surname and is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Spehan. Spehan was derived from the word "speh," which means clearing in the forest.
The Spehan surname first emerged in the 12th century in areas of southern Germany and Austria. It then spread up north to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. People bearing this name often resided in small villages or towns encircled by woods, fields, and streams, and was likely derived from the family's occupation as lumberjacks or foresters.
The Spahn surname has gone through several iterations in spelling over the years, including Spaun, Spohn, Sponh, and Spaen. It is one of the most common surnames in Germany today, with approximately 172,000 people bearing the name. Besides Germany, the Spahn surname is also prominent in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
The Spahn family crest is usually a black bear walking on a red ground or a standing black bear on a gold ground.
Order DNA origin analysisSpahn: Where does the name Spahn come from?
The last name Spahn can currently be found across many parts of the world. It is most common in Germany, where it ranks as the 266th most popular surname. It is also a popular surname in the United States, where it is among the top 4,000 surnames. It can also be found in parts of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, and Belgium.
In the United States, Spahn can be commonly found in states such as California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. California has the largest population of people with the last name Spahn, followed by Florida and Pennsylvania. It is also a more common last name in bigger cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
The origin of the name Spahn is German and it might have derived from an old German word which meant “little sparrow”. In some records, the name is also listed as Span and its variants can be found all over the German language region.
The Spahn family is a prominent German family and their members have served in important positions in both the public and private sectors. For example, Dr. Josef Spahn was a prominent German politician in the early 19th century. The Spahn family also owns the prominent German engineering company, Spahn & Rose operated by Josef Spahn and his son, Peter.
Variations of the surname Spahn
The surname Spahn is of German and Ashkenazic Jewish origin and is derived from a reduced form of the Old German personal name "Spano". It is a toponymic surname to someone from a place named "Spahn", which was derived from the German word "Span", meaning "fir tree". The variants and spellings of the surname Spahn include Spaan, Spahh, Spähn, Spon, Sponem and Sponn.
The Ashkenazic Jewish variants of Spahn include Spahn, Shpahn and Shbahm. The surname is also found in various spellings in the modern German language including Spähn, Spahn, Spon, Sponem, and Sponn.
In the United States the surname Spahn is found in several anglicized forms including Spane, Spann and Spaane. It is also anglicized to Span in the regions where the family migrated from Germany to England and Scotland during the 16th century and to America, Canada and Australia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Other variants of the surname can also be found in various languages and countries. These include Spahni (Swiss German), Span (Netherlands and Dutch-speaking countries), Spano (Italian), Spon (Austria and South Tyrol) and Spaan (Portugal).
The surname Spahn is also found as a Jewish surname in a number of countries around the world. It is found as a contraction of the Given name "Yisrael", in the spelling Yisroel, as "Spahns". In Israel, the surname can also be found as "Shpahns" or "Shbaams". Other variants include Shpon, Shponem and Shponn.
The surname Spahn has spread around the world from its origins in Germany, giving the family an international presence. The numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin serve to further diversify the surname, and reflect the journey and evolution of the Spahn family over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Spahn
- Warren Spahn, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer (1921–2003)
- Billy Spahn, Major League Baseball player (1944–1953)
- John Spahn, German footballer (born 1982)
- Vicki Spahn, American model (born 1989)
- Matthew Spahn, American hurdler (born 1995)
- Dan Spahn, American ice hockey player (born 1951)
- Paul Spahn, German pole vaulter (born 1968)
- Pastor Mathias Spahn, German pastor, Educational Director and Bible Scholar (1905–1986)
- Manuel Spahn, Swiss ski jumper (born 1991)
- Joe Spahn, American football coach (born 1955)