Surname Speier - Meaning and Origin
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Speier: What does the surname Speier mean?
The last name Speier is of German origin and is a locational surname from the Middle High German "speier" meaning "bishop". It could have originally denoted someone who came from Speyer, a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.
Speier is derived from the Latin word 'speculator', meaning an observer or watcher, and was originally used to refer to an official in charge of checking the property boundaries of a bishop's land. The Speier family could have been an ancient ruling family in Germany, and by medieval times they had become prominent landowners and publilc servants in certain parts of Germany.
The Speier surname is found throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and various other European countries, as well as the Americas. It is also found in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, thanks to the great number of Germans who emigrated there during the 19th century.
In modern times, this surname still has an important presence in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is still seen as a sign of status and respect, and its popularity has remained strong among those of German descent throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSpeier: Where does the name Speier come from?
The last name Speier is found all over the world, but there are pockets where it is more common than in others. The most concentrated areas for people with this name are in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Israel.
In the United States Speier is particularly common in California. That's because a large portion of the people with this name have their roots in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city of Palo Alto and the Silicon Valley are particularly significant when looking at the US population of Speier-surnamed people. One reason for this may be that the first Speier recorded in the area was a German-born Jewish immigrant, Hyman Speier, who arrived in San Francisco in 1860. Speiers have also been serving as US Senator and Congresswoman from California since the late 70s, namely Jackie Speier.
Speiers in Germany originate from the Speyer area of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwestern Germany. This area was an immigration epicenter for Jews in the early 19th century, particularly for those of German and Eastern European descent. Many Speiers and their descendants spread to other parts of Germany, as well as Austria and other countries.
The Speier last name is also common in Israel, particularly in the areas of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv where many Jews of German heritage live. Israel is a popular destination among those with German-Jewish roots, or other sorts of heritage related to the country and its culture.
Overall the people with the last name Speier come from a mix of backgrounds, countries, and places, making it one of the most widespread last names in the world.
Variations of the surname Speier
The surname SPEIER has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of SPEIER include Speyer, Spyra, Speyra, Speiera, Speyrer, Spyrer, Speiara, Speiar, Spieler, Speegle, Spieger, Speier, Spear, Spier, and Spire.
The surname SPEIER originated in the German language and is a topographic name in addition to being a spelling variant of the given name SPEIER, which is derived from the German word 'Spiegel' which means 'mirror', as it was a common practice to designate a person's home in a geographical location by referring to a physical object in the area.
In North America and other parts of the world, the surname SPEIER has been anglicized and Americanized further with spellings such as Speer, Spears, Speers, Speir, Spearman, Speierman, and Spearain.
In the Jewish community, the SPEIER surname is found in many variants, such as Spiegel, Speigel, Speygel, Spijgela, Speege, and Spigle.
In central European countries, especially in Austria and Switzerland, variants of the SPEIRER surname include Speierle, Speierl, Spiel, Spieler, Speierla, Spyrala, Speyral, Spyra, Speerle, Speerli, Speierli and Sphar.
In some parts of the world, such as Eastern Europe, some variants of the surname include Ispare, Ishpeir, Spayer and Speyer.
All these surnames are variants of SPEIER and originate from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Speier
- Jackie Speier: U.S. Congresswoman representing California's 14th Congressional District
- Peter Speier: German General and military theorist
- Günter Speier: German mathematician
- Friedrich Speier: German professor and theologian
- Hans Speier: German-American sociologist
- Robert Speier: American basketball player
- Karl Speier: German bacteriologist and immunologist
- Walter Speier: German therapist
- Donald L. Speier: American diplomat and Defense Intelligence Agency official
- Alfred Speier: German large-scale retailer