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

Spiers, 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 Spiers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spiers in America

Spiers is the 10692nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spiers surname appeared 2,989 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 Spiers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spiers 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 Spiers

The surname Spiers is of English origin and traces its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "spere," which referred to a spear or lance, a weapon commonly used during those times. This occupational surname was likely initially given to someone who made or sold spears, or perhaps even to a skilled spearman or soldier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "Willmus le Spere." The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing insight into the usage of surnames in various parts of England during that period.

In the 14th century, the name surfaced in various forms, including "Spereman" and "Spermonger," further reinforcing its connection to the spear trade or profession. These variations highlight the fluidity of surname spellings during the Middle Ages before standardization became more widespread.

The Spiers surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as Spiers in Fife, Scotland, and Speers Point in New South Wales, Australia. However, it is unclear whether these locations were named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa.

Notable individuals with the Spiers surname throughout history include:

1. William Spiers (1820-1887), a Scottish-born American architect known for designing several prominent buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Smithsonian Institution Building and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

2. John Spiers (1888-1966), a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the early 20th century.

3. Gerry Spiers (born 1954), a former professional footballer from Northern Ireland who played for several clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

4. Richard Spiers (1838-1916), an English-born Australian journalist and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

5. Alexander Spiers (1809-1892), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

While the Spiers surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, its historical roots and connections to the spear trade and profession provide an intriguing glimpse into the lives and occupations of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spiers

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

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

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

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