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

Speet, 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 Speet surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Speet in America

Speet is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speet surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Speet.

The history of the last name Speet

The surname Speet has its origins in the Netherlands, likely dating back to the late medieval period. The name appears to be particularly prevalent in the regions of Holland and Friesland. The etymology of Speet may be connected to the Dutch word "speet," which translates to "spit" in English, potentially indicating a landscape feature such as a narrow piece of land projecting into water, or perhaps a tool or weapon.

Old records from the Dutch region, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, show variations of the surname Speet. One such record is from a 1445 manuscript in Amsterdam, where the name "Jan van Speet" is mentioned as a landowner, indicating the presence of the surname in legal and property contexts. In the 16th century, archival documents reveal a Cornelis Speet, a shipbuilder in Rotterdam (1502-1585). This individual contributed significantly to early modern shipbuilding techniques of the time.

An early example of the surname is Daniel Speet, a merchant documented in historical trade records from 1521 in the city of Utrecht. His involvement in extensive trade between the Dutch cities and neighboring regions underscores the socio-economic role that individuals with this surname played. Another notable figure is Pieter Speet, born in 1643, who was a recognized painter in the Dutch Golden Age, associated with works depicting maritime scenes and landscapes.

In the 18th century, the name appears in military records, most notably Captain Hendrik Speet (1732-1804), who served in the Dutch East India Company. His extensive career spanned several decades, showcasing the adventurous and often perilous lives led by those associated with this surname. Additionally, historical documents from the city of Leiden reference Maria Speet (1760-1821), a skilled artisan known for her intricate lacework, which was highly regarded in the local community.

Throughout its history, the surname Speet has been associated with various professions and societal roles, reflecting the diverse contributions of its bearers. The name continues to carry a rich heritage, deeply rooted in the cultural and historical tapestry of the Netherlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speet

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Speet 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!