Surname Spekker - Meaning and Origin
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Spekker: What does the surname Spekker mean?
The last name Spekker is believed to be of Germanic origins. It is likely that it is derived from the Mid Low German word “spek” meaning “corner” or “edge”, which can refer to someone living at the edge of a village or town. Alternatively, it could come from the Middle Dutch word “speke” meaning “striped” or “speckled” and would have referred to a person or family with marked patterned garments.
Within Germany, Spekker is considered to be a relatively uncommon last name. However, there is still a significant population of Spekkers in the north German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. During the 19th Century, the Spekker family was prominent in particular towns and cities in the region, particularly in the towns of Kastorf and Aschau.
Historically, the Spekker family has been linked to occupations such as agriculture, seafaring, and fishing. Spekker ancestors were commonly known as skippers, sailors, farmers, bakers, millers, butchers and apothecaries, with members of the family often owning their own businesses.
Despite its Germanic roots, the Spekker name can also be found within other countries, particularly the Netherlands and United States. In the U.S., the Spekker name can be found in many Eastern states, particularly in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Overall, the Spekker family is one steeped in history with a long line of ancestors who followed a variety of trades, often in the service industry. Though fairly uncommon, their surname has long been associated with hard work, dedication, and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisSpekker: Where does the name Spekker come from?
The last name Spekker is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it is said to have originated over 800 years ago. Spekkers are said to have originated in the Veluwe region of the Netherlands, which is a large area of forests and sand dune-covered heathland mostly found in the central and eastern parts of the country.
The number of people with the last name Spekker is not known exactly, however within the Netherlands it is estimated to be around 5,000 individuals - though it is likely to be a lot more. The highest concentration of the Spekker surname can be found in three Dutch provinces; Gelderland, Overijssel, and Noord-Holland, mainly in villages and small towns throughout those areas.
Spekkers are also found in other areas that have been settled by Dutch immigrants, such as Australia, where the largest population of Spekkers outside of the Netherlands resides. Spekkers can also be found in avid numbers in the United States, especially in the parts of the country that had large civilian populations of Dutch immigrants.
Overall, the last name Spekker is most commonly associated with the Netherlands, however it can be found through different regions as a result of Dutch immigration throughout the years.
Variations of the surname Spekker
The Germanic family name Spekker (also spelled Specker) originates from the Middle High German word “spekke,” which meant “to honeycomb.” The surname is believed to have been used to refer to a beekeeper or someone who sold honey. One of its variants is Speck, which is believed to have originated from a misspelling of Spekker.
Variants of Spekker include Specker, Speckert, Speckers, Spekered, Spicker, Spickermann and Spickholz. Depending on the origin of the spelling, alternate spellings Speckhart, Speichardt, Speihardt and Speichard are also possible. German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany and Switzerlanddominate the surname, but it is found in many other countries with Germanic roots, such as the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.
Surnames of similar origin to Spekker include Spieker, Specker, Speckerger, Speckle, Spieckermann, Spiekermeier and Spieckman. Spieker is a common variation used in the northern German language region, and is especially widespread in the north of Germany, typically associated with families originally from Oldenburg and Lower Saxony. Germans have also been known to spell Spekker as Speckerger or Speckle. Speckerger is a spelling typical of southwestern Germany and western Austria, and can also be referred to as Spiekerger. Speckle is more commonly found in southern Germany and western Austria, and is derived from the surname Spickholz.
There are a range of German surnames of similar origin to Spekker which are used in countries of Germanic origin. Each of these surnames can have its own variants, spellings and regional variations.
Famous people with the name Spekker
- Claudia Spekker: German figure skater
- Conrad Spekker: Dutch composer
- Herman Spekker: Dutch footballer
- Jason Spekker: American soccer player
- Justin Spekker: Australian international rule-breaker
- Joost Speekker: Dutch author
- Robert Spekker: Australian anthropologist
- Robert Spekker: German painter
- Wolf Spekker: Dutch architect
- Willem Spekker: Dutch painter