Surname Sprote - Meaning and Origin

Sprote: What does the surname Sprote mean?

The surname Sprote is derived from the old French word ‘sprote’ which referred to a youth or a ‘lively youngster.’ The name appears to have been used as a nickname to describe someone who was full of life and vigor.

The surname is most commonly found throughout Germany, although there are also many instances of the surname appearing in England. Some scholars believe that the surname has its origins in Anglo-Saxon England, where it was used as a nickname for young men as early as the 10th century.

In modern times, the surname is still relatively uncommon. However, it is often found in the German state of Hesse, as well as in neighbouring countries like Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

In terms of etymology, ‘sprote’ is believed to be derived from the Latin word ‘sprutus’, which refers to something that is ‘sprung’ or ‘sprouted.’ This could be in reference to the sprung nature of youthfulness, or of something lively and full of vigor, which is the traditional interpretation of the surname.

The surname Sprote has also been adopted as a first name in some cases, with one example being the Dutch actor and television personality Sprote van Houten.

Sprote: Where does the name Sprote come from?

The last name Sprote is most common today in Northern Italy and parts of Switzerland. This surname is thought to have its roots in the Germanic language, most likely from the Middle High German meaning "sprote", which was originally used to refer to someone who was born out of wedlock.

In Northern Italy, the Italian surname “Sprote” is most common within the region of Lombardy, Piedmont, and Valle d'Aosta. This surname is even more common in the cities of Turin, Biella, Vercelli, Novarra, and Asti, where the concentrations are significantly higher.

The same name is also quite common in Switzerland, especially in the cantons of Valais, Bern, and Graubunden. In all of these places, the name is thought to have been brought by immigrants from Northern Italy in the early 1900s.

The exact origin of the Sprote surname is unknown, but it is believed to have originally been a surname for those of peasant farmers who had no known noble ancestry. It is likely that this surname was a way of distinguishing those of lower social class, and later became more widespread as these families relocated.

Today, the name Sprote is still fairly common in these regions. It is likely that this surname will continue to remain popular in these areas as it has in the past.

Variations of the surname Sprote

Sprote is an uncommon surname, so there are not many variants related to it. The most common alternative spellings are Sproat and Sprotes. The double "t" in Sprote is usually dropped in favor of the single "t".

This surname is believed to have originated from the Old English word "sprote", meaning spur. It is likely that the first person to take the name went by the nickname "Sprote" or had a relative who went by that nickname.

Sprote may have originated in Germany, where it is considered to be a variant of Schprock. It is also thought that the surname might have derived from the given name Thorold, which is derived from the Old Norse elements "Þór" and "valdr" meaning "Thor" and "rule".

Variants of the surname include Sprats, Sprott, Sprough, and Spruitt. Surnames related to Sprote include Spero, Speer, Sprow, and Springer.

Famous people with the name Sprote

• Kylina Sprote: long-distance runner and two-time Paralympic medalist
• Patrick Sprote: Australian actor and theatre director
• Jasper Sprote: Canadian professional soccer player
• Brandon Sprote: American professional offensive guard
• Craig Sprote: English former professional football goalkeeper
• Susan Sprote: Canadian women’s basketball coach
• Mandy Sprote: Australian music performer and singer
• Isabelle Sprote: French model
• Marianne Sprote: Austrian radio journalist
• Ryan Sprote: American professional basketball player
• Hilde Sprote: German mathematician
• Franziska Sprote: German figure skater
• Christian Sprote: German sculptor
• Betina Sprote: Brazilian urban artist
• Luke Sprote: Australian rugby league footballer
• Mark Sprote: American retired badminton player
• Sam Sprote: American pro skateboarder
• Thomas Sprote: Danish-born Swiss international footballer
• Jérôme Sprote: French actor
• Ruth Sprote: Austrian astronomer

Other surnames

Sprott