Surname Spelle - Meaning and Origin
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Spelle: What does the surname Spelle mean?
The last name "Spelle" doesn't have a clearly defined meaning that can be traced to one specific culture or language. It doesn't appear to have roots in common surname originating languages like English, German, French, or others. It's possible that "Spelle" could be a variant of other similar sounding surnames, or might be geographically or occupationally based. Certain surnames derive from the places where families resided, or from professions that ancestors held. However, without specific historical or genealogical information, it's difficult to ascertain the exact meaning of "Spelle". It's also possible that the surname has been altered or anglicized over generations, obscuring its original form and meaning. In such cases, investigating individual family histories and genealogical records might provide more clues about its origins and possible meanings. Always remember that surnames can be subject to many changes over time due to factors such as migration, language evolution and illiteracy in past centuries. It's also worth noting that many people have unique surnames, the origins of which may be known only to their specific family lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisSpelle: Where does the name Spelle come from?
The last name Spelle is most common today in northwestern Germany in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. There, it is particularly concentrated around the cities of Düsseldorf, Cologne and Aachen. The name can also be found in small numbers in the neighborhing states of Lower Saxony, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The name is likely of regional origin, since the root of the name, Spel, means literally “rock” or “boulder” in the local dialect. This suggests that the family may have originally been from an area with rocky terrain.
Spelle remains a rare surname in the rest of Germany. The name is particularly rare outside of the German-speaking world. However, given the large number of emigrants from Germany in the centuries gone by, the last name Spelle can be found in many other countries, such as the United States, Australia, and Brazil, among others.
Variations of the surname Spelle
The surname Spelle has several different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Spell, Spelles, Spelles, Spalls, Spellis, Spellise, Spellyss, and Splas.
The variant of Spell might have more of an English origin, while Spelle is more Germanic in origin as the suffix "-le" or "-el" is a common element in German surnames. Spell is likely derived from the Old English word “spella” meaning “a magical charm.” In German, the name might have been derived from “spel” meaning “word or speech”, making it a collective nickname for someone known for their oratory ability.
Spellis, Spellise and Spellyss are similar variants that are likely derived from the Old English words “spellic” and “spellyss” which mean “knowledgeable one” and “wise one” respectively.
Spalls is likely a variant of Spelle, as the suffix “-all” was a common spelling variant used in Germanic names. This variant likely orginated with the Old English word “spel” meaning “word or speech”, making it a nickname for someone who was known for their communication skills.
Finally Splas is likely a variant of Spelle as the suffix “-las” was also a common spelling variant used in Germanic names. This variant might have been derived from the Old High German word “spela” meaning “inquirer” or “investigator” likely making it a nickname for someone known for their ability to get to the bottom of things.
Famous people with the name Spelle
- Jeoffrey Spelle: former French professional footballer
- Jeroen Spelle: Dutch entrepreneur, politician, and author
- Edward Spelle: British biographer
- Julian Spelle: German singer, songwriter, and composer
- Martin Spelle: German pianist and harpsichordist
- Ludwig Spelle: German sculptor and painter
- Stephen Spelle: American composer and electronic musician
- Imre Spelle: Hungarian poet, writer, and artist
- Ursula Spelle: German art historian and curator
- Alfons Spelle: Austrian architect, designer, and educator