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

Speese, 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 Speese surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Speese in America

Speese is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speese surname appeared 297 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 Speese.

We can also compare 2010 data for Speese 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 Speese

The surname "SPEESE" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Spiess," which means "spear" or "lance." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a profession or occupation related to wielding spears or lances, such as a soldier or a member of a military order.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name "SPEESE" can be found in the German church records of the town of Wittenberg, where a family by that name was documented in the late 1500s. The name also appears in various other historical documents from the same period, indicating its presence in various regions of Germany.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including "Spies," "Spiess," and "Spieß." These variations were common in the early modern era, as standardized spellings were not yet widely adopted. The name's prevalence in certain areas of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony, suggests that it may have had regional concentrations.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the surname "SPEESE" emerged. One such figure was Johann Georg Spiess (1644-1691), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Merseburg. Another was Johann Jacob Spiess (1668-1719), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

During the 19th century, the name continued to be found across various parts of Europe, with individuals such as Friedrich Spiess (1820-1905), a German painter and illustrator, and Wilhelm Spiess (1864-1953), a German sculptor and medallist, making notable contributions in their respective fields.

As families bearing the surname "SPEESE" migrated to other parts of the world, the name took on additional variations. For example, in the United States, the spelling "Speese" became more prevalent, reflecting the influence of anglicization on German surnames.

Overall, the surname "SPEESE" has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to its German origins. Its association with professions related to spears or lances, as well as its presence in various historical records and the achievements of notable individuals bearing the name, contribute to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speese

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

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

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

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