SPEERS

Speers is a surname of Norse and Scottish origin, arising from the Old Norse word spjórr meaning “spear.” The name is an occupational surname, typically granted to an individual who was skilled in the use or manufacture of a spear, or to a warrior noted for such a weapon.

The surname is also linked to the Old English word spere, a term used in the Middle Ages to describe a spear. Historically, some bearers of the name were thought to be spear‑makers or spear‑bearers, and the surname could thus be a nickname describing a tall, thin person resembling a spear, or a hunter or soldier proficient with it.

Another derivation connects Speers to the Old French verb espier, meaning “to watch or observe.” In this interpretation the name could be a job title for a keeper of the watch, i.e. an early policeman. This usage suggests a patronymic form of the surnames Spier or Spear.

Earliest documentary evidence of the name appears in the early 13th century. In a charter witness list dated about 1232, a Willelmus Sper is recorded in the register of the Holy Trinity Monastery at Scon. The same period saw the names William le Spiour in the Accounts of the Chamberlains of Chester (1302) and Robert Spyer in the 1379 Poll Tax returns for Yorkshire.

Marriage and baptismal records from the 17th century also document the name. On 6 December 1620, a marriage between Jonas Spiers and Elizabeth Burch was recorded at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, and their son John was christened at the same parish on 27 August 1621.

In Scotland, the name is associated with several local origins. One clan tradition links it to the old barony of Speirs in the parish of Beith, Ayrshire, where the name was first recorded as Speirs. The distribution of the surname has historically centred on Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, but migration has spread it throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. In more recent times, sizable populations of people bearing the surname appear in the United States, Australia and Canada, largely due to emigration during previous centuries.

The spelling of the surname has varied widely over the centuries, reflecting dialectal differences and the lack of standardised orthography. Recorded variants include Spears, Speirs, Spiers, Speres, Speer, Sper, Spear and Spere. When conducting genealogical research, it is important to consider all these forms, as records may list the family under any of the alternative spellings.

Typical given names associated with the Speers surname

Male

• Alan
• Andrew
• Brian
• Craig
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Paul
• Robert
• Samuel
• William

Female

• Ann
• Anne
• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Julie
• Linda
• Louise
• Maeve
• Margaret
• Mary
• Nicola
• Sarah
• Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Speers in...

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Semaphore

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Speers

• Daniel Speers -

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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