Surname Speeks - Meaning and Origin

Speeks: What does the surname Speeks mean?

The origin of the surname Speeks is uncertain, however, various hypotheses have been proposed. It is possible that the name is of Dutch-German origin, derived from the low German word "speck" meaning "bacon fat," and may have referred to an occupational surname for a bacon fat processor or merchant. Another possibility is that the name is derived from the old Germanic personal name "Spechio", meaning "peace"; thus, Speeks would be an occupational surname for a peacesmith.

Alternatively, Speeks could be derived from the ancient Viking name "Spikk." This was a personal name, derived from an Old Norse word meaning "pointy and sharp", and could denote an occupational surname for a weaponsmith.

The surname Speeks is rarely found today in the United States, yet it is still quite common in the Netherlands. It is believed to have arrived in the United States in the 19th century, most likely with Dutch immigrants. By the turn of the 20th century, Speeks was found in the US states of Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Speeks: Where does the name Speeks come from?

The last name Speeks is common in the United States and parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland, though it is also found in other countries around the world. Speeks is an occupational name derived from the word for steeplejack, a builder of church steeples, spires, and other such structures, as well as steeple repairs. A similar variant of the name is Speeksman.

The name Speeks may have first appeared in Scotland, where it is found in records dating back hundreds of years. It is believed to have first been used as a descriptive name for someone who practiced the trade of a steeplejack as early as the 16th century. It is found more recently in records from the United States, with the earliest record being of a Speeks family arriving in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 17th century.

Due to its long history, Speeks is still a relatively common name. The United States Census Bureau estimates that more than 6,000 people bear the name Speeks, though the exact numbers are difficult to calculate due to variations in its spelling. The most common variants of Speeks in the United States are Speakes, Speaks, and Speck. It is worth noting that Speeks is also a fairly uncommon surname in the United Kingdom, though it is still found in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Speeks

Speeks is a rare family name in the English language. It is also known by its variant spellings Speaks, Speake, Speekes, Spiek and possibly Speik, all of which are believed to have derived from the Saxon word Spic, meaning "speech".

Speeks is a traditional German-American surname and is believed to have originated in the Germanic regions, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse regions.

The earliest Speeks ancestors were most likely German-speaking, and the surname is believed to have originated in Germany. The Speeks families first began migrating from Germany to the US in the early 19th century. Immigrants to the United States tended to adopt the language of their new country. The name Speeks evolved into its current spelling from the various German variations of the name, such as Speken, Speeka, Speeches and Speices.

In America, the Speeks family most commonly spelled their name as Speaks, pearhaps in order to be more easily assimilated. Immigrants who settled in England occasionally spelled the name Spek or Speke.

The Speekes surname is also popular in other parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. In Dutch, Speekes is often spelled as Speets and Peeks.

Speeks is an uncommon and widely dispersed surname, with few individuals bearing this name in any given area. However, there are several notable people with the Speeks surname who have made their mark in science, politics, sports and the arts.

Famous people with the name Speeks

• Bonnie Speeks: Bonnie is a former senior vice president of global marketing of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. She is now the Senior VP and Global Client Services and Agency Relations Director at Contrast Creative.
• Michael Speeks: Michael is a personal injury attorney based in Philadelphia, specializing in representing individuals who have been seriously injured.
• Tracy Speeks: Tracy is a former professional football player who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.
• Erik Speeks: Erik is a software engineer who has worked at Disney, Microsoft, and Amazon, specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning initiatives.
• Jordan Speeks: Jordan is a retired professional basketball player who played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. He was an All-Star, All-NBA team selection, and three-time NBA champion.
• Paul Speeks: Paul is a retired co-founder and CEO of Equals Three Communications, an advertising and marketing agency located in Washington, DC.
• David Speeks: David is an attorney based in Atlanta who specializes in defending victims of negligence and wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, and other civil litigation.
• Demetrius Speeks: Demetrius is a professional basketball player currently playing in the EuroLeague for Panathinaikos Athens. He previously had a successful NCAA career playing for the University of Memphis.
• Don Speeks: Don is a retired professional football player who played for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders.
• Jennifer Speeks: Jennifer is a professor of nursing at the University of San Francisco, specializing in healthcare policy and practice, healthcare systems, and health equity.

Other surnames

Speek