Surname Spangemacher - Meaning and Origin
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Spangemacher: What does the surname Spangemacher mean?
The last name Spangemacher is of German origin and is derived from two words spangen (which translates to "bards") and macher (which translates to "maker"). This implies that the original bearer of the surname was a maker of bards or that he belonged to a trade that was the manufacture of such items. The addition of the "er" suffix denotes someone who belongs to, or is associated with a certain occupation.
In ancient times, a bardsmaker was someone who constructed shoes, belts, and other items out of leather or metal pieces connected together by hinges. This was a form of decorative armor sometimes used in combat by knights and foot soldiers. In modern times, the term “spangemacher” has come to refer to someone who makes or repairs armor, often in an ornamental style.
The surname Spangemacher is also spelled Spangenmacher in Germany, and is found mainly in the southwest regions, particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg. There is a modern village called Spangemacher, which is located in the county of Ortenau in the Black Forest region of Germany.
The recommended way to pronounce the surname is "spahn-gen-mahk-er", and the meaning is “armorer” or “armor maker”. In addition to being an occupational name, it may also have been used to describe someone who was an artisan of metal decorations or adornments.
Order DNA origin analysisSpangemacher: Where does the name Spangemacher come from?
The last name Spangemacher is most commonly found today in Germany and the United States.
In Germany, Spangemacher is a relatively common surname. Birth records from the late 1600s show the earliest known use of the name in Germany. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many families with the name Spangemacher were found in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse. However, as more and more Germans emigrated to the United States, Spangemacher began to appear in North America as well.
In the United States, Spangemacher is found in more than half of the states, particularly in the states of Ohio, Michigan, and California. In fact, Ohio houses the largest population of people with the Spangemacher surname in the US. The earliest recorded use of the Spangemacher name in the US can be dated to the 1840s, when Germans began leaving their home country in search of better economic opportunities and religious freedoms.
Spangemacher is also occasionally found in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, largely due to people who have emigrated out of Germany and the US.
Overall, the last name Spangemacher is quite common today in Germany and the United States, with a smattering of presence in other countries as well. Its use is invariably polycentric, having likely stemmed from a combination of migration, as well as generations of passing it down from family to family.
Variations of the surname Spangemacher
The surname Spangemacher originates from German and is a toponymic name meaning "smith of the village of Speicher in the East Frisian district of Aurich." Variants and spellings of this surname include Spankemacher, Spankemack, Spanrycker, Spancmacher, Spanckryker, and Spanmacke.
Surnames of the same origin include Spangemacher, Spangmeyer, Spangemeyer, Spangenberger, Spangenberg, and Spangenbergher. Other spellings include Spangenmacher, Spangenmehr, Spangenmayer, Spangmaier, Spangman, and Spangmann.
The Polish variants of this surname are Spankowiak and Spankowski. In Austria, the surname is spelled Spang ideal. Spelling variants include Span Crane and Span Fuller. In Denmark, the term Spangmacher is an accepted alternative, as is Span Madsen.
In the Netherlands, there is the surnames Spanjer and Sperger. In the United States, the surname is sometimes spelled Sponemacher, Spanamaker, Spangmaker, Spaemacher, or Spangmacher.
Spangemacher is a surname with many variants and alternate spellings. It is an occupational surname, indicating a blacksmith who worked in the village of Speicher, and is still seen in some countries today.
Famous people with the name Spangemacher
- Christian Spangemacher: German footballer who has played for various teams such as FC St. Pauli, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and MSV Duisburg.
- Karl Spangemacher: German sports director of German Football Association (DFB).
- Susanne Spangemacher: German journalist and editor.
- Garret Spangemacher: American big wave surfer and media personality, judging reality shows like The Great Big Adventure.
- Michael Spangemacher: German football referee.
- Gerd Spangemacher: German professional cyclist.
- Ralph Spangemacher: Canadian entrepreneur and a founding member of ABB Group.
- Gert Spangemacher: German decorated military veteran and former physical education instructor.
- Leon Spangemacher: American figure skater who won a medal in the 1924 Harvard Winter Carnival.
- John J Spangemacher: American artist and professor at San Jose State University noted for his realism and plein air art.