Surname Spek - Meaning and Origin
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Spek: What does the surname Spek mean?
The last name Spek is of Dutch origin and is a toponymic occupational surname derived from the Old Dutch word “spek” meaning “bacon”. It originally referred to people who were bacon producers or bacon merchants, either as their primary or secondary occupation.
The name is recorded in Dutch court records as far back as the 15th century in Flanders and the Netherlands. During the 16th and 17th centuries, many Dutch families emigrated to the American Colonies in search of a better life. Many of these families, including the Speks, settled in Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina.
The Spek family has come to represent a strong sense of community, hard work, and perseverance. They value education and creativity and take pride in their Dutch heritage and traditions. They are also known to be generous to those in need, always offering love and support to family and friends.
Today, the Speks have spread throughout the United States, with many having chosen to make the Midwest and South their home. A few families have also chosen to settle abroad, with residents in Australia and Canada. The Spek surname is still present in the Netherlands, memorialized in Dutch streets and communities.
The Speks are a proud and tight knit family, contributing to the wider society with their unique blend of hard work, determination and resilience. Their rich heritage and traditions remind us of the strength, courage, and resourcefulness of all the early pioneers who set out in search of a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisSpek: Where does the name Spek come from?
The last name Spek is most commonly found today in The Netherlands and Belgium. Spek is a Dutch surname derived from the Middle Dutch word "speke," which means "spike" or "pointed tool." It is believed that Spek was originally a topographic name given to someone who lived near a spire or pointed object like a church tower or tall tree.
In The Netherlands, Spek is the 190th most common surname. It is most commonly found in the Dutch province of Zeeland, located in the southwestern part of the country. It is also fairly common in NoordBrabant, a province in the south of the Netherlands, and Utrecht, a province in the central part of the country. It is less common in the rest of the Netherlands, but still relatively well spread out.
In Belgium, Spek is much more concentrated in one area than it is in The Netherlands. The province of Flemish-Brabant in the north part is the area with the highest concentration of the Spek surname. It is also fairly common in the provinces of East Flanders and West Flanders.
Overall, the Spek surname is not overly common anywhere today, though there are the occasional concentrations of it in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe.
Variations of the surname Spek
The surname Spek has a few different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variation is Speck, which is probably the result of a phonetic misspelling of the original surname. Other variations include Specken, Specker, Speckle and Spekker.
Speck is a German name of Slavic origin derived from the word 'speka' which means 'balm'. The name was also used to describe someone who made or sold balm, which was a popular healing ointment in medieval times.
Specken is the Dutch form of the name and is an occupational name for someone who worked in a smithy on a forge. It derives from the Middle Dutch 'speck' which means 'forge'.
Specker is an occupational name for a maker of spectacles and is derived from the Middle High German word 'spegcke' meaning 'goggle maker'.
Speckle is a German name that is derived from Middle High German word 'specker' meaning 'mottled or flecked'. It is perhaps a nickname for someone with a mottled or freckled face.
Spekker is a Dutch version of Speck. It is a variant of the name Specken which is derived from the Middle Dutch word 'speck' meaning 'forge'.
In conclusion, the surname Spek has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Speck, Specken, Specker, Speckle and Spekker. Each of these variations is derived from an occupational term, a nickname or a Middle German/Dutch word.
Famous people with the name Spek
- Tom Spek: Dutch Olympic windsurfer and senior advisor in the field of sport and leisure.
- Paul Spek: Canadian screenwriter and author, best known for his writing on the TV series Murdoch Mysteries.
- Jonathan Spek: Dutch designer whose furniture designs are inspired by nature and the environment.
- Andre Spek: Dutch manager who has worked at high levels in business and industry.
- Mark Spek: Dutch singer-songwriter and performer who has released solo albums and has toured throughout Europe.
- Gerard Spek: Dutch politician and chairperson for the Green Party in the Netherlands.
- Tjibbe Spek: Dutch composer, producer and sound designer who has composed music for video games, television and feature films.
- Pieter Spek: Dutch painter who works in a style of realism, creating detailed and expressive narrative images.
- Jan Spek: Dutch artist who is well known for his oil paintings and his bronze sculptures. His work is often inspired by mythology and religion.
- Alexei Spek: Russian entrepreneur, technologist and investor, who founded the venture capital firm Yandex-Kassir.