Names

Occupational name for a person who dispensed provisions to those who worked at a manor, derived from Middle English spense “larder, pantry”.

Variant of Spencer.

English form of Specht, probably a loanword from German or Dutch.

Possibly from German spielen meaning “to play, to jest” combined with meyer meaning “village headman”. Perhaps it referred to someone who was played or acted as the village headman.

Means “woodpecker” in German.

Patronymic form of Spear.

Patronymic form of Spear.

From Old English spere “spear”, an occupational name for a hunter or a maker of spears, or a nickname for a thin person.

From an Old Norse nickname or byname derived from sparkr meaning “sprightly”.

From Sicilian sparaciu meaning “asparagus”, an occupational name for an asparagus seller or grower.