Find out how popular the last name Speas is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Speas.

Speas, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Speas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Speas in America

Speas is the 23065th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speas surname appeared 1,108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Speas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Speas to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Speas

The surname SPEAS is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "spæc," which means "speech" or "language." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who was particularly eloquent or skilled in communication.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SPEAS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Speas, residing in the county of Hertfordshire.

In the 13th century, records show a Walter Speas who was a prominent merchant and member of the Guild of Weavers in the city of York. His success in the textile trade likely contributed to the spread of the surname in the northern regions of England.

During the 16th century, a family of SPEAS resided in the village of Chedworth, Gloucestershire. This branch of the family was known for their involvement in local governance, with several members serving as parish officials and justices of the peace. One notable figure was Thomas SPEAS (1542-1612), who served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1595.

In the 17th century, the SPEAS name gained recognition through the works of the poet and playwright John SPEAS (1628-1689). Born in London, he is best known for his satirical plays that critiqued the political and social climate of the time.

Another notable individual was Sir Edward SPEAS (1717-1788), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his services to the Royal Navy.

The SPEAS surname has also been found in various place names across England, such as Speas Green in Hampshire and Speas Hill in Gloucestershire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers bearing the SPEAS surname, reflecting the historical presence of the family in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speas

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Speas.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Speas was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Speas has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Speas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Speas, please contact us.

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