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

Speller, 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 Speller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Speller in America

Speller is the 11743rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Speller surname appeared 2,668 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Speller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Speller 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 Speller

The surname Speller has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "spelere," which referred to a reciter of tales or a minstrel. The name likely originated from individuals who made their living as traveling storytellers or entertainers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a William le Speller is mentioned. This historic document provides evidence that the name was already established in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Spellere, Spellare, and Spellour, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The name was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John le Speller is listed.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname began to be more consistently spelled as Speller. One notable bearer of the name was William Speller, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century and is mentioned in historical records from that city.

The Speller surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, there is a village called Speller in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the name's geographical distribution.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Speller throughout history are:

1. John Speller (c. 1600-1663), an English Puritan preacher and author known for his religious works.
2. Nathaniel Speller (1675-1751), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century.
3. Elizabeth Speller (1768-1825), an English writer and poet from Kent, known for her collection of poems published in 1795.
4. Sir Henry Speller (1829-1904), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare initiatives in London.
5. Reginald Speller (1901-1978), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

While the surname Speller may not be as common today as it once was, its history can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as an occupational name for storytellers and minstrels, reflecting the rich cultural traditions of that era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Speller

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

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

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

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