Surname Spruell - Meaning and Origin
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Spruell: What does the surname Spruell mean?
The last name Spruell is believed to have derived from an old English origin. The name is believed to have evolved from the personal name Sprowel which was a combination of the words 'esp' meaning 'spear' and 'wielle' meaning 'well'. This is thought to denote the meaning 'person from the well of spears', which may have suggested some kind of warrior ancestor.
It is thought that this surname was also derived from a similar Old Norse and Norse Gaelic name Sproule. This name was also composed of parts, these being 'språ', which meant 'shouting' and 'vål' which meant 'warrior'.
In the Middle Ages, this surname was popular amongst both English and Scottish families, appearing in a variety of different spellings and pronunciations. Over time, the spelling of Spruell has become more commonly used.
Today, this surname is still fairly common but is largely found throughout Scotland, England and the United States. The meaning and origin of the name are largely unknown, though many suspect it may represent some kind of warrior ancestor. It is still a relatively uncommon name, and often quite difficult to trace back through history.
Order DNA origin analysisSpruell: Where does the name Spruell come from?
The last name Spruell is primarily found in the United States today. According to data from the 2020 US census, about 1,600 people in the United States have the last name Spruell.
Most of them reside in the Midwestern states, with the highest numbers in South Carolina and Georgia. Georgia has the highest concentration of Spruells, with over 400 people having the name. South Carolina is not far behind, with 300 Spruells. Other states with significant numbers of Spruells include North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
In addition, there are a small, but not insignificant, number of Spruells in other states such as New York, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Interestingly, there are even a handful of Spruells in Alaska, Oregon, and Hawaii.
Outside of the United States, rare occurrences of the last name Spruell can be found in Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Most of these Spruells, however, have their roots in the United States.
Though uncommon, the Spruell name is still quite recognizable in the United States. It will be interesting to see what the next US census reveals about the numbers of people with this last name in 2021.
Variations of the surname Spruell
Spruell is an uncommon and relatively uncommon surname that is believed to have originated in Scotland. It is most likely derived from Middle English words meaning “spring” or “sprout”. Variants of the name include Sproule, Sprules, Spruill, Sproull, Spruill, Sprewell, and Sprewill.
In terms of its spelling, Spruell is sometimes seen as Spruel, Spruill, Sprouell, Sprowll, Sprewell, and Sprewill. It is also seen combined with other given names as a surname, such as Spruell-Williams. While it is most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it can also be found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
Spruell is a patronymic surname, meaning it is passed down from the father's name. In Scotland, it was sometimes recorded as Mac Spruel or McSpruel, depending on the dialect. In Ulster, it also sometimes recorded as McSpurrell or simply Spurrell.
The estimated population of people with the surname Spruell is not known. However, since it is a relatively rare surname, it is unlikely that there are very many people who carry the name.
Famous people with the name Spruell
- Terry Spruell: American actor and musician, probably best known for his roles in The Three Stooges and The Hangover Part II.
- Gail Spruell: a former reality show contestant on America's Got Talent.
- Trina Spruell: an award-winning artist and creative director from Boston, Massachusetts.
- Allen Spruell: a former American professional basketball player, who played in the NBA from 1993 to 1997.
- Ben Spruell: a US Army veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart.
- Mark Spruell: a professional English footballer who last played for Stoke City.
- Ray Spruell: an action movie director and filmmaker.
- Prince Spruell: an actor who appeared in films like The Color Purple and McQueen.
- Brendon Spruell: an actor, known for his roles in films such as Malcolm X and The Wolf of Wall Street.
- Michael Spruell: author of several books, including Out of Control: The Making of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case.
- Jordan Spruell: a former professional Lacrosse player and member of the U.S. national team.