Surname Sperin - Meaning and Origin
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Sperin: What does the surname Sperin mean?
The last name Sperin is a surname of Italian and Greek origins. It is an occupational name derived from the Italian verb sperare, meaning "to hope". This name likely began in the Middle Ages and was used to describe people who made a living as bakers and millers. The occupation itself involved a person who was responsible for creating, baking, and distributing bread, and grain-based products.
The Sperin surname was also adopted by families related to the Italian and Greek Orthodox churches. It is thought to originate from the Greek spyrida, which means "to sow". As sowing is the practice of planting seed, it stands to reason that the Sperin family were farmers who cultivated and harvested crops. It can also be assumed that the Sperin family may have been fishermen who made a living from the sea.
In more recent years, the surname Sperin can represent a variety of backgrounds and cultures. People who currently bear the Sperin name may be descended from Italian, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, and other European countries. It is also possible that those who have taken the surname as their own may have Jewish or Middle Eastern ancestry.Despite the varying origins, the Sperin family can remain proud of their heritage, whatever it may be.
Order DNA origin analysisSperin: Where does the name Sperin come from?
The last name Sperin is most common today within small and large Italian and Slovenian communities throughout the world. In Italy, the birthplaces of speakers of the surname Sperin can be found in the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. An especially large concentration of the name is in the province of Treviso in the Veneto region. Within Slovenia, Sperin is mainly centered around the region of Primorska, as well as some small pockets around the rest of the country.
The United States and Canada also have a number of immigrants from Italian and Slovenian families with the surname Sperin. The largest concentrations of these families can be found in large Italian-American and Slovenian-American communities, such the Bronx and Brooklyn in New York City, Chicago's Little Italy and Slovenian Village, and cities such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
In addition, people of diverse backgrounds, including African-American, Hispanic, and other immigrants, have picked up the name over the years. This has resulted in the name of Sperin appearing in the records of numerous countries outside of Europe, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and South Africa.
Overall, the surname Sperin is most commonly found in Italy, Slovenia, and North America. However, its presence may be found in many other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Sperin
The surname Sperin is of German origin and can have a variety of spellings and variants, including Spärin, Speran, Sparen, Sparina, and Sparan. Additionally, many other surnames could have derived from the name Sperin, such as Spearing, Spehr, Speear, Speere, Speerin, and Spiering.
In some cases, the German Sperin surname may have derived from the name of where the family resided, such as the town of Sparen located in the district of Oldenburg in Germany. It is also possible for the surname to have its origin as a toponymic name, denoting a person who hailed from a location whose name began with the German word “spar” or "sper”, meaning a field or enclosure.
In some cases, “Sperin” may have derived from the Old German word “spar” or “sper”, meaning “mason” or “stonemason”. It may have also denoted someone who worked with stone, such as a quarryman or a stonemason. Another potential origin of the surname is from the Old German word “sperin”, meaning “keeper” or “guardian”.
Moreover, many English variants of the surname Sperin have arisen due to the Norman conquest. These spellings may include Spear, Speare, Spearing, Sparing, and Sparin.
Overall, the surname Sperin is varied in spelling and origin and there are a variety of surnames that may have derived from it. It is important to research the specific history of a family's surname in order identify its true origin and spelling.
Famous people with the name Sperin
- Stefan Sperin: Austrian Skeleton competitor who has competed at the Winter Olympics.
- Arturo Sperin: Founder and CEO of the Argentinian sports marketing agency Sperin Sports.
- Thomas Sperin: Swiss alpine ski racer who has competed at several World Championships.
- Rudolf Sperin: Retired German ice hockey player and Olympic bronze medalist.
- Augustin Sperin: American professional golfer who competed in multiple PGA Tour events.
- Richard Sperin: American tennis player who competed in the US Open Championships in the 1950s.
- Peter Sperin: Austrian professional footballer who played for several teams in the 2000s.
- Morten Sperin: Norwegian former ice hockey player who played for teams in Europe and the United States.
- Chris Sperin: Canadian film producer and commercial director who directed music videos for multiple artists.
- William Sperin: American professional bull rider who competed in multiple events.