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

Speech, 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 Speech surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Speech in America

Speech is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speech surname appeared 201 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 Speech.

We can also compare 2010 data for Speech 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 Speech

The surname Speech has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "spæc," which referred to the ability to speak or deliver a speech. This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who were skilled orators, public speakers, or perhaps even town criers.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name Speech can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William le Speche. Another early record is the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Speche.

During the 14th century, the surname Speech appeared in various forms, such as Speche, Spech, and Speeche, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Speech was Robert Speech, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 15th century. He served as Mayor of Bristol in 1485 and played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.

In the 16th century, the name Speech appeared in parish records across various counties in England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. One example is William Speech, baptized in Brimfield, Gloucestershire, in 1585.

Another notable individual with the surname Speech was John Speech, a religious writer and minister who lived in the early 17th century. He authored several works, including "The Better Portion" and "The Mercies of a Covenant God."

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, a certain Captain Richard Speech fought on the Parliamentarian side and was mentioned in several contemporary accounts for his bravery on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the surname Speech was found in various records, including parish registers and court documents. One example is Thomas Speech, a landowner from Oxfordshire, who was involved in a legal dispute over property boundaries in 1723.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Speech spread across various parts of the British Isles and later to other regions of the world through emigration and colonization. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has persisted, carrying the legacy of its linguistic and oratorical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speech

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

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 Speech 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 Speech 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 Speech was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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