Surname Spehlmann - Meaning and Origin
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Spehlmann: What does the surname Spehlmann mean?
The last name Spehlmann is of German origin, with its earliest known origins from the region of Hesse and Thuringia. The name Spehlmann is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word ‘spehel’, which in turn is derived from the Old High German word ‘speh’, meaning "person of importance". As such, the name Spehlmann likely originated as a surname given to someone of distinction or authority within a community.
Spehlmann has many spelling variations, including Spählmann, Spehlmann-Meier, Spalman, Speelman, and Speingring. The variation in spellings indicates the name has been in use in various parts of Europe for centuries.
Today, the name Spehlmann is primarily found in Germany, the Low Countries, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada. It's likely the Spehlmanns arrived in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s, as was common for those of German descent who were escaping religious persecution. By the late 1800s, many had moved to the Midwest and settled in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
Spehlmann continues to be a common surname in its various spellings, with about 4,200 people in the U.S. currently bearing the name. Despite the name's roots, it is still used as a surname for people of all types of backgrounds and nationalities.
Order DNA origin analysisSpehlmann: Where does the name Spehlmann come from?
The last name Spehlmann is most commonly found in Germany. It is believed that the name is derived from the German word "Spahl," which can mean "axe" or "pickaxe," as the occupation of the first Spehlmanns may have been that of woodsman. Today, the surname is found primarily in the surrounding regions of Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria.
It is also found in relatively smaller numbers in other countries with Germanic heritage, such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic. There are some scattered Spehlmanns in the United States and Canada as well, mainly those who emigrated from certain regions of Germany during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Spehlmann remains a fairly uncommon last name, even in its homeland. According to recent statistics, the Spehlmann surname ranks at nearly 13,000 worldwide, with the greatest concentration of Spehlmanns in Germany. It is believed that, out of the several thousand Spehlmanns living in Germany, only a very small number are still using this spelling of the name today.
Variations of the surname Spehlmann
The surname Spehlmann has variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. These include Spehlman, Spehlmann, Spehlemann, Spehlmann, Spelmeier, Shealer, Szalai, Sheplar, Shealer, and Szalay.
Spehlmann is a Germanic surname originating from the Middle High German word "spehle," which was an old word meaning "dweller on a grassy plain." It likely derived from the Proto-Germanic surname "*spaljon". Over time, the "n" at the end of Spehlmann was dropped, resulting in the many variant spellings that exist today.
Spehlman is the most common spelling of the surname. It usually indicates a German heritage, and likely originated in Germany or Austria. It has since spread to many countries around the world, including the United States.
Spelmeier is a variation of the Spehlmann surname. It also originated in Germany and can be found in communities in the United States and Australia.
Shealer and Sheplar is an Anglicized version of the Spehlmann name. This spelling evolved when the family arrived in Canada from Germany, Austria, or Hungary. It is still commonly found in Canada, as well as the United States and United Kingdom.
Szalai and Szalay is the Hungarian-origin variation of the Spehlmann surname. This spelling may have originated as a result of the Slavic and Magyar invasions of the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. It is found mainly in Hungary, as well as North America and Europe.
In conclusion, the Spehlmann surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. These include Spehlman, Spehlmann, Spehlemann, Spehlmann, Spelmeier, Shealer, Szalai, Sheplar, Shealer, and Szalay. Each of these variants has its own unique history, and all can be traced back to the same Proto-Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Spehlmann
- Béla Spehlmann: Hungarian sculptor
- Marthinus Spehlmann: South African cricket umpire
- Adam Spehlmann: American Major League baseball player
- Paule Spehlmann: French-Swiss danseuse
- Lynne Spehlmann: American actress
- Elizabeth Spehlmann: American fiction author
- Terri Spehlmann: Australian screenwriter
- Karin Spehlmann: German Olympic medalist
- Joe Spehlmann: American actor
- Tony Spehlmann: American television producer
- Christopher Spehlmann: German painter
- Kyle Spehlmann: American Major League baseball player
- Günter Spehlmann: German Olympic fencer
- Deborah Spehlmann: German Rowload Committee member
- Gerald Spehlmann: Canadian television executive
- Matt Spehlmann: American film director
- Pierre Spehlmann: French Olympic canoe racer
- Alexander Spehlmann: German actor
- André Spehlmann: German photographer
- Flavio Spehlmann: Brazilian Rio de Janeiro mayor
- Sybrand Spehlmann: Dutch Olympic fencer
- Florian Spehlmann: German footballer
- Bjarne Spehlmann: Danish chess player
- Amir Spehlmann: Iranian author and journalist
- Craig Spehlmann: American Major League sports executive
- Marco Spehlmann: German geographer
- Olga Spehlmann: German field hockey player
- Mathieu Spehlmann: French rugby footballer
- Jean-Yves Spehlmann: French Olympic rower
- Gert Spehlmann: German landscape artist