Sprouse Family History

English (Gloucestershire): nickname for someone from Prussia from Middle English Spruce Sprewse ‘Prussia’ (an alteration of Middle English Prus(se)). Compare German Preuss.

The adjective spruce ‘neat dapper’ which probably derives from an attributive use of the name of the country is not recorded until the late 16th century too late for it to be a likely source of the surname.

The tree (earlier called spruce fir) has likewise only come to be known by this name in the last couple of centuries.

This surname is now rare in Britain.