Spice

Origin and Meaning: Spice is an English surname derived from the Old French word "espice," which means spice or aromatic substance. It is thought to have originated as an occupational name for a spice merchant or someone who worked with spices.

Distribution: The surname Spice is found mainly in the United Kingdom, particularly in regions with historical ties to the spice trade and merchant activities.

Notable People:

  • Geri Halliwell (née Geri Estelle Horner, born 1972): Former member of the Spice Girls, an iconic British girl group.
  • Isabella Mary Beeton (1836–1865): The Victorian era author known for her book "Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management," which included recipes with various spices.

Coat of Arms: The Spice family coat of arms features symbols associated with trade and prosperity, often depicting imagery of spices or merchant scales.

Modern Influence: The surname Spice continues to be passed down through generations, connecting individuals to their historical roots in trade and culinary traditions.

References:

  • Reaney, P. H., & Wilson, R. M. (1991). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Routledge.
  • Redmonds, G., King, R., & Hey, D. (2011). Surnames, DNA, and Family History. Oxford University Press.

There are approximately 1,219 people named Spice in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,352nd most common surname in Britain. Around 19 in a million people in Britain are named Spice.

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • David
  • John
  • Martin
  • Michael
  • Nicholas
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Philip
  • Richard
  • William

Female

  • Christine
  • Emma
  • Jane
  • Jennifer
  • Karen
  • Lesley
  • Linda
  • Margaret
  • Nicola
  • Patricia
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

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

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.