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

Speer, 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 Speer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Speer in America

Speer is the 3041st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speer surname appeared 11,770 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Speer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Speer 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 Speer

The surname Speer has its origins traced back to Germany, with records dating as far back as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "sper," which means "spear" or "lance," suggesting a connection to a warrior or soldier.

During the medieval period, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was often associated with individuals involved in military or knightly pursuits. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from 1284, which mentions a certain "Heinrich Speer" residing in the town of Nuremberg.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Speer include Johann Joachim Speer, a German mathematician and astronomer born in 1595, who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy during the 17th century. Another prominent individual was Johann Speer, a German painter and engraver active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, renowned for his intricate woodcut prints.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Speer. However, it is worth noting that the name's German origin suggests it was likely introduced to England at a later period, potentially through migration or military service.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures bearing the surname Speer was Albert Speer, a German architect and Minister of Armaments and War Production for Nazi Germany during World War II. Born in 1905 and executed in 1981, Speer's involvement in the Nazi regime and his subsequent trial at Nuremberg made him a controversial figure in history.

Another individual of historical significance was Daniel Speer, a German composer and organist active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His works, including a collection of organ pieces titled "Musicalische Rüstkammer," were highly regarded during his time and contributed to the development of German baroque music.

The name Speer has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Speergraben and Speerdorf, which may have influenced or derived from the surname itself. Additionally, variations in spelling, such as Spehr and Speer, have been documented over the centuries, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speer

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

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

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

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