Surname Spilker - Meaning and Origin

Spilker: What does the surname Spilker mean?

The surname Spilker is of German origin and dates back several centuries. It is an occupational name, meaning ‘spindle maker’ or ‘spinner’ in German. In the Middle Ages, spinning was an important craft as it was used to create luxury yarns for linens, clothing and items for religious ceremonies.

The earliest recorded Spilker in Germany was found in a tax roll for the year 1311 in the area of Saxony. The name was spelled as Spilker, Spillker, Spilke and Spillker. During this time, the Spilkers were involved in the creation and sale of yarns in the northern region of Germany.

Originally, the surname was made up of two words - ‘spil’ which meant ‘spindle’, or what we call spindles today, and ‘ker’, which meant ‘maker’. Over time, the two words combined to create a single word and the last name we know today.

The Spilker Family began to spread throughout Europe and the surname was eventually anglicised upon the family’s emigration to the United States and other parts of the world. It is now found as Spilker, Spillker, Spilke and Spillker amongst other variants, and is a descendant of the original family.

Through the centuries, the Spilker family has been associated with various professions such as spindle makers, spinner, wool merchants, clothiers and weavers. The name is now common across Europe and the United States, and the legacy of these hard-working ancestors lives on.

Spilker: Where does the name Spilker come from?

The last name Spilker is most commonly found in the United States and Germany today. According to the United States Census Bureau, the largest concentrations of the Spilker surname are found in Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois.

It is an occupational name, derived from the Middle Dutch ‘spilkere’, meaning ‘nail maker’ or ‘metalworker’, and is thought to have been brought to the United States by German immigrants in the 18th century.

In modern day Germany, Spilker is most commonly found in Bavaria, an area where Germanic tribes lived during the 8th century. The surname may have been adopted to distinguish families of tradesmen who originally emigrated from Bavaria.

In tracing the use of the last name, a number of references can be found in European history. One example is noted in the genealogical records of Johann Kuhn, a Spilker from Darmstadt, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1855.

In today's society, many people of the Spilker surname are thought to have descendants from those who migrated to America from Germany centuries ago. Other branches of the family have distinct ties to the original German immigrant families but have seen the surname evolve over time as different locations adopted the name.

Variations of the surname Spilker

Variants of the surname Spilker include Spielker, Spilkker, and Speilkuhr. These different spellings have been recorded throughout history in both Germany and the United States.

The surname is derived from the German word “spillen” which means “to split, divide, or cut.” It is also related to the Middle High German word “spelc” which means “spade” or “tool.” This suggests that the name was originally a profession name for a toolmaker.

Spilker has a few other variants that are slightly less common than the ones mentioned above. These include Spielkuhr, Speilkr, Spiele, and Speilke. These names developed due to the high number of immigrants coming from Germany to the United States who sought to anglicize their name for better integration into American society.

The spelling of the surname has also changed over time due to mistakes made when writing or recording the surname down on official documents. With such a complex and varied history, it is very likely that the surname has more ways of being spelled.

In conclusion, the surname Spilker has many variants, spellings, and even surnames of the same origin. The most popular variant is Spielker, with Spilkker, Speilkuhr, Spielkuhr, Speilkr, Spiele, and Speilke also being found in a few areas. The spelling variants all emerged through anglicization, natural linguistic shifts, and errors made when recording the name down on official documents.

Famous people with the name Spilker

• Laura Spilker: professional volleyball player, who has played in National Women’s Volleyball A1 League
• Steven Spilker: American film and television actor known for his roles in Watercolor Postcards and A Little Princess
• Cassandra Spilker: actress, best known for her role in the film Into the Woods
• Paul Spilker: American businessman, co-founder and current CEO of technology company Spilker Ventures
• Martin Spilker: German sculptor, best known for his bronzes of public figures and his sculptures in the cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene
• Richard Spilker: Canadian hockey player, who skated for the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Erika Spilker: Venezuelan singer, songwriter and actress best known for her role in the musical Mi Tio Guillermo
• Albert Spilker: German-born Swiss architect and interior designer, who designed numerous villas in Basel-Stadt
• Luisa Spilker: Mexican actress, best known for her roles in films such as No voy a llorar and Bienvenido a casa
• Adele Spilker: German operatic soprano, who has performed in opera houses all around the world

Other surnames

SpilkeSpilken