Surname Sproul - Meaning and Origin

Sproul: What does the surname Sproul mean?

The last name Sproul is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is a local surname that originated from the Sproule family that lived in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name indicates that this family originated from the region near the River Spey and was from a Gaelic family, hence the Gaelic spelling of the name.

The meaning of the name Sproul has been variously interpreted, with some sources saying it is derived from the Gaelic words 'sprul' or 'spruill', meaning 'valley'. Other interpretations suggest that the name is a corruption of the word 'speerl' or 'speiril', which means 'small spear'.

The Sproul family were mainly farmers and cattle-men, living in the valley regions of Scotland. In the past, members of the family were also active in war, particularly in the Scottish wars of independence. Many of the family moved to Ireland during the 'plantations' of the 17th century, when they were allocated lands in Ulster by the English crown.

The Sproul family is also prominent in the United States, where many of the family emigrated during the 19th century as part of the great Irish migrations. The Sprouls have contributed significantly to American life, particularly in the area of the arts, politics and academia.

Today, the Sproul name is most closely associated with Pennsylvania, which is the home of many descendants of the original Sproul family in the United States. The name has also spread to other parts of the globe, to countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Sproul: Where does the name Sproul come from?

The last name Sproul is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the US, Pennsylvania has the highest concentration of Sproul families, followed by Ohio, California, Michigan, and Virginia. In Canada, Sproul is most popular in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba.

Today, the Sproul surname is rarely found outside of North America. The Scottish roots of the surname can be traced to the name MacInSprow, a once common last name in Scotland. This name originates from the Old Irish MacGiolla an Spreoil, which translates to "son of a follower of St. Patrick".

Although the Sproul family has been established for centuries, the original family name may have originated from other locations such as Ireland, Germany, or France.

The Sproul surname is associated with various professions, including art, engineering, teaching, pastoral work, and law. While some descendants have stayed true to their ancestral professions, others have ventured into new fields.

In recent years, the Sproul family has grown, with new generations continuing to pursue success in various paths. As time passes, the Sprouls remain a strong and memorable name in both the US and Canada.

Variations of the surname Sproul

The surname Sproul is derived from the Old English word ‘sprula’, which means ‘sprout or shoot’. It is originally a locational name, referring to someone who originally lived in a place with an abundance of trees, which would have produced a great many shoots or sprouts.

The variants of Sproul include Sprul, Spruell, Spruel, Sprool, Sprule, Spruill, Sprull, Spruiel, Surhaule, and Sprule.

Spelling variations of Sproul include Sprowl, Sprulle, Spruill, Sp∧ole, Sprouell, Spruell, Spruel, Sprule, Spruelle, Spriuel, Spruele, and Sproule.

In Scotland, the Sproul surname is also found in the form of Spreull, Spriall, Spreall, Speerill, Spierall, and Spieril. In Ireland, the variation of the surname is Sprowle, while in Wales it is Spruell.

In addition, some people have adopted the surname Sprayle, which is derived from the Welsh phrase ‘sprayleth’, meaning ‘in a high place’.

The surname Sproul is also common in German-speaking countries, where it is written as Schpröhl. In French-speaking countries, the surname is Sproulle or Sproul.

Finally, there are a number of surnames that have derived from Sproul and share its origin, such as Sprowles, Sprules, Sprwles, Sprowsles, Sprowels, Spraules, Sprownles, Sproules, and Sprooels.

Famous people with the name Sproul

• Robert Sproul: The thirteenth president of the University of California. He served from 1958 to 1967.
• Sam Sproul: A professional basketball player for the Anderson Packers in the National Basketball League. He was also the short-lived coach of the team.
• David Sproul: Former chief executive of Deloitte UK, a position he held from 2011 to 2019.
• William Sproul: The seventeenth governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923.
• Charles Sproul: A philanthropist and president of the Bank of California at the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
• Anne Sproul-Lopez: A former Orange County supervisor, she was a long-time mayor of San Clemente, California.
• Ivor Sproul: A Scottish surgeon who was the first pediatric surgeon in Scotland.
• Jack Sproul: A Republican who served in the California State Assembly from 1959 to 1961.
• Wayne Sproul: The third President of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
• Jenn Sproul-Latimer: A professional wrestler best known for her tenure in Impact Wrestling.

Other surnames

Sprouse