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Speer Family History

Speer Surname Meaning

German and Dutch: from Middle High German Middle Dutch sper ‘spear’ hence a nickname for a tall thin person or else for a skilled user of the hunting spear. In part it may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a maker of spears.

German: nickname for someone thought to resemble a sparrow Middle High German spar(e) ‘sparrow’.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Speyer.

Irish (northern): variant of Speir.

English (London): variant of Spear.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Speer family from?

You can see how Speer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Speer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Speer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 221 Speer families living in London. This was about 76% of all the recorded Speer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Speer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Speer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Speer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Scientific Instrument Maker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Speer. 60% of Speer men worked as a Scientific Instrument Maker and 84% of Speer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Speer were Motor Driver and Private Means.

View Census Data for Speer | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Scientific Instrument Maker
    60%
  • Motor Driver
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Dressmaker
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Speer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Speer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Speer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Speer

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Speer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Speer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Speer. For the veterans among your Speer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Speer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Speer family history

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What is the average Speer lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Speer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Speer in 1941 was 45, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Speer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Speer ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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