Surname Spec - Meaning and Origin
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Spec: What does the surname Spec mean?
The last name Spec is an occupational surname, meaning that it identifies someone who did a specific job. It is derived from the Latin word "specus" which translates to "cave, cell, or excavation" and was used when referring to those who were cave guides or otherwise worked in a mine. The term was also used to describe people who worked as tavern owners.
In modern usage, the name Spec is most commonly found in the United States, where it is used by people of Dutch, Danish, and German heritage. In some cases, the name has evolved to Spic or Speck, though these two variants are not as closely linked to the original meaning as Spec.
People who bear the name Spec can trace their ancestry to some of the oldest European settlement in the New World. During Colonial times, individuals bearing the Spec surname may have been among the first settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Dutch settlements in New York, or some of the early German pioneers in Pennsylvania.
Today, the surname Spec is found in many countries and across different cultural backgrounds. It is a reminder of our shared past, connecting us to our shared roots and establishing our distinct identity as a global community. What is common among the traditions attached to this name is the pride and dignity with which it is still held.
Order DNA origin analysisSpec: Where does the name Spec come from?
The surname Spec is most commonly found in the Central European countries of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The surname is much more rare outside of these countries. There are a few families with the name living in North America, especially in the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
It is believed that the name Spec was derived from an Old German name meaning “beech tree”. This points to a likely German origin for the surname, although it is possible that the family name could have arisen independently in Austria or Hungary as well.
In Germany, there are currently around 1,000 families living with the last name Spec. Most of them are located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of the country, with a few families in the surrounding states as well. In Austria, the last name is less common, with only a few hundred families living with the name.
The surname Spec is much rarer in Hungary. In the entire country, only a few dozen families are currently living with the name. In Brazil, the spelling of the name is often changed to “Espec”. There are a few dozen families with this spelling living in the country, most of them in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
Overall, the surname Spec is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. There are a few families with the surname living in North America and Brazil, although the name is much rarer outside of Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Spec
The surname Spec is an English variant of the name Speck, which was most commonly found in the Midlands and Lancashire counties of England. It is thought to have been derived from the Middle English word “speke”, which referred to a hill or a steep hillside. Like many English surnames, it was likely developed in the 1300s or 1400s. The surname has since spread to other countries such as Scotland, Ireland, and the United States.
Variants of the surname Spec include Speck, Speckle, Specker, Speckert, Specke, Speckles, Speckman, and Speckmann. It may also be spelled as Spicke, Spekker, Speckner, Speck Kart, Spickele, Speccer, Speckens, Speckner, Specs, and Spect.
Other surnames of similar origin include Speake, Speace, Speat, Speckett, Speckler, Speckmanns, Speckenmeyer, Speaky, Speed, and Speight.
Some foreign variants of the surname Spec include Spak, Spack, Spick, Spackman, and Spacksman. These are mostly found in Germany. Other German variants include Spechthardt, Spiegelhorst, Speckhahn and Specht.
In the United States, Spec is usually pronounced “speck” or “speckle”. It may also be found spelled as Speaks, Specken, Speckhart, Specker, Specket, Speckett, or Spekker.
Although the surname Spec may have originated in England, its variants and other surnames of similar origin are now found in many different countries across the world.
Famous people with the name Spec
- Anton Spec: Soviet footballer
- Mike Spec: American musician
- Rob Spec: Canadian voice actor
- Kris Spec: Dutch computer animator
- Martin Spec: British actor
- Michal Spec: Slovakian poet
- Liza Spec: Russian ballerina
- Lena Spec: Ukrainian tennis player
- Zsofia Spec: Hungarian model
- Arkadii Spec: Belarusian businessman