SPEKE
Speke
Speke is an English surname with origins tracing back to the county of Somerset in South West England. The surname is believed to have originated from the Old English word "spac" or "spaac," which means "woodpecker." This name likely started as a nickname for someone thought to resemble or live near the bird.
The most famous bearer of the Speke surname is perhaps Captain John Hanning Speke (1827–1864). He was a British explorer who, along with Richard Burton, set out to discover the source of the River Nile. Speke famously claimed to have found Lake Victoria as the Nile's source, a claim that led to a notable dispute between him and Burton. Speke's solo journey to Lake Victoria in 1858 marked a significant contribution to African exploration, despite the controversy surrounding his findings.
The Speke surname has continued to be relatively rare in comparison to other English surnames, often preserved by descendants of notable historical figures or families. Today, individuals with the surname Speke can be found across the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world, each contributing to the diverse tapestry of British heritage.
Typical given names associated with the Speke surname
Male
- Adrian
- Alexander
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- Gary
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Richard
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Debbie
- Jacqueline
- Joanne
- Karen
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Sheila
- Siobhan
- Susan
- Tracy
- Zara
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 Speke in...
Braille
⠎⠏⠑⠅⠑
Morse
....--..-.-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 236 people named Speke in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Speke.
Famous people named Speke
- John Hanning Speke - Military officer and explorer (1827 to 1864)
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.