Surname Spann - Meaning and Origin
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read moreSpann: What does the surname Spann mean?
The last name Spann is of German origin and is considered to be occupational, relating to work or profession. The term "Spann" refers to "a team of horses or oxen" in Old German. Therefore, it may be cognate with the Old English term "spann" meaning a pair or team, implying that the original bearers of this surname could have been individuals who worked with teams of animals, such as farm workers, teamsters, or ploughmen. This gives us a glimpse into the line of work the ancestors of those bearing this surname might have been involved with. Like many surnames with occupational origins, they became necessary as governments introduced personal taxation, allowing individuals to be identified more specifically. Today, Spann is carried by individuals and families predominantly in Germany and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisSpann: Where does the name Spann come from?
The last name Spann is most commonly found in the United States today. It is most concentrated in the state of Georgia, where there are over 3,000 people with the last name. The surname is also found in other areas of the Southern United States, including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, and South Carolina. In addition, Spanns can also be found in Texas and Oklahoma. There have been historical reports of the surname in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California.
As far as other regions in the world, Spanns can occasionally be found in Germany as well as parts of France, such as Calais. In 2010, Spann was the 13,426th most common name in the United States. This represents a slight decrease from the nearly 3,000 Spanns found in Georgia 20 years prior.
The origin of Spann can be traced back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. The name is derived from the Old English "spann," which means "pair of span wings." The name likely refers to someone who is a skilled aviator or woodworker, as the span wing is a type of bird. The name was first found in Oxfordshire, England, but the earliest record of the surname in America dates back to 1635, when William Spann arrived in Jamestown, Virginia.
Variations of the surname Spann
The surname Spann is commonly found in both English-speaking countries and German-speaking countries. It is derived from the Old German name Span, which means "wide" in English. In German, it can appear as Span, Spahn, Spang, Spangen, Spann, Spön, Spahnen, Sponn, and Sponnen. In English, the surname can also be found as Spaan, Span, Spann, Spon, Sponn, Sponnen, and Sponne.
Many variations may arise for the same surname depending on the region and native language. In parts of France and Germany, the surname has sometimes been recorded as Spahn and Spahnen. The Dutch-speaking regions record the surname as Span, Spaan, and Spon. In England, it is recorded as Span, Spann, Spon, and Sponn. Some American families of German descent spell the name with an extra letter – Sponnen or Sponne.
The surname also has variants based on the type of profession that a person held. For example, a blacksmith would be known as Spaner or Spannschmied, and a weaver would be known as Spenner and Spannweber.
No matter how the surname is spelled, it still carries with it the surname's original meaning of "one who is wide or broad." It is a proud reminder of the family's shared history that began in Germany hundreds of years ago.
Famous people with the name Spann
- Mike Spann, a former Central Intelligence Agency agent and the first American killed in the United States' War in Afghanistan.
- Jeff Spann, the head women's basketball coach for the University of Alabama.
- Luisa Spann, a female professional surfer from Australia.
- Dave Spann, the former long time Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels.
- Les Spann, an American jazz guitarist and flutist most active in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Terrence Spann, an American football player who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2000.
- Carla Spann, a professional freestyle BMX rider from the UK.
- K. Allen Spann, an American actor, director, and musician best known for his role in the tv series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Peter Spann, an Australian investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
- Garry Spann, an American politician who served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives.