Surname Spear - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Spear Legacy: An Enlightening Journey Into My Celtic Roots Using iGENEA DNA Testing

My curiosity always led me to ponder about the origins and history of my surname, Spear. I embarked on this self-discovery journey with the iGENEA DNA test, and it was more enlightening than I ever thought. My findings took me to the Indo-European roots of my paternal lineage and the Celtic tribes of ancient times.

C. Spear

Spear: What does the surname Spear mean?

The last name Spear is of English origin and it originated from the pre-7th century Old English word "spere" meaning a spear. It was often used as a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of spears, or possibly a nickname reflecting some characteristic associated with a spear, such as tall and thin or swift. Alternatively, in some instances, it could have been a topographic name for someone who lived by a brushwood fence, which in medieval England, was also named "spere". The surname is first recorded in the late 12th Century and variations of the spelling include Speare, Sper, Speres, Spere, and Speeres. Like other surnames that originated from occupations or nicknames, the original meaning of the surname Spear is now largely lost in the mists of time.

Spear: Where does the name Spear come from?

The Spear surname can be found in many countries around the world today. In England and the British Isles, Spear is quite a common last name. The United States has more than 15,000 people with the last name Spear. It is most commonly found in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. In Canada, Spear is very common in the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. In Australia, Spear is a common surname in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.

In Europe, the Spear last name is found in France, Spain, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Slovakia. Spear is also a popular surname in South Africa. In Asia, the last name is most commonly found in India, Malaya, and Singapore. Finally, Spear is a popular last name in South America, particularly in Peru, Colombia, and Argentina.

No matter where it is found, the Spear surname is a testament to the many paths our ancestors took in their travels around the world. It is a reminder of the diversity and strength of humankind.

Variations of the surname Spear

The surname Spear is an occupational surname of Anglo-Saxon origins and has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants are mostly derived from the ancient word ‘spere’ or ‘spire’, which was used to describe a lance, javelin or spearhead, thus suggesting a connection to the occupation of a spearman or lancer.

The most common variants of the Spear surname are Speer, Speers, Spiers, Spere, Spearr, Speir, Speers, Spyres and Spyrer. Additionally, the surname has also seen several spelling variants; Speere, Spyrer, Speear, Spiear, Spyer and Spyar.

The Scottish variant of Spear is McKay, which was the designated surname of the MacKay Clan of Scotland who followed MacKay of Strathnaver in the 1400s. The German variant for the surname is Speer or Spearer, and the Dutch variant is Speijer.

The spelling variant of Speer is also found in some areas of Sweden, Norway and Iceland, which is located in the North Atlantic. This suggests that it may have originated in the region of Scandinavia prior to its adoption in the British Isles.

Further, the same origin also extends to the Dutch surnames of Speirer or Speerens, and the German-Swiss variant of Spiess. Finally, some individuals who originates from the Spear surname also take the surnames Spearing or Spiring, both of which are also derived from the original Anglo-Saxon word for spear.

Famous people with the name Spear

• Britney Spears: American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress.
• Jamie Lynn Spears: American actress and singer.
• Billie Jean King: American former World No. 1 professional tennis player.
• Roderick Spear: British actor and theatre director.
• Pete Spear: English professional footballer.
• Ken Spear: Catherine the Great's court sculptor.
• Teo Spear: American professional wrestler.
• Stephen Spear: American painter and sculptor.
• Stephen H. Spear: American novelist and screenwriter.
• Joe Spear: American professional pool player.
• Fred Spear: former Canadian politician.
• Charles A. Spear: former American politician.
• Richard G. Spear:an American professor of art history.
• Harry Spear: American professional footballer.
• Raymond Spear: British classical pianist.
• Les Spear: American professional baseball player.
• Charles Spear: American college football coach.
• Miles Spear: American professional poker player.
• Henry Spear: American politician from Massachusetts.
• Thomas Spear: former politician from British Columbia, Canada.

Other surnames

SpeadSpeakSpeakeSpeakesSpeaksSpealmanspeareSpearinSpearingSpearmanSpears