Surname Spanheimer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Spanheimer: What does the surname Spanheimer mean?
The surname Spanheimer is of German origin and is derived from a place name. Spanheim is a village in Bavaria, Germany, and the name of the place implies that the family name originates from a person who lived on or near a hill. The name is derived from the Old High German word spano, meaning “hill”, and heim, meaning “home”.
The Spanheimers are likely to have come from the middle German region of Franconia, although their exact origin cannot be pinpointed. It is likely that they were living in the area since the Middle Ages, as the name first appeared in records dating from 1500.
The surname was popularized in the early 19th century when two prominent members of the Spanheimer family, Baron Friedrich von Spanheim and Dr. Johann von Spanheim, moved from Bavaria to the United States. They settled in Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively, where their surnames began to be more commonly found.
Today, the name is widespread across Europe and North America, although it remains most common in Germany and the countries of the former German Empire. For those with the surname, Spanheimer is a proud reminder of their German ancestry and a connection to a long and fascinating history.
Order DNA origin analysisSpanheimer: Where does the name Spanheimer come from?
Spanheimer is a German surname found primarily in the areas of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Thuringia. It is most commonly found in Germany today, with highest concentrations in the south of the country. In the United States, the Spanheimer surname is most common in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, particularly in Pennsylvania, home to the largest concentration of people with the surname.
In addition to Germany and the United States, Spanheimer is also found in Russia, Austria, Australia, Hungary, and Canada. It is actually considered one of the most widespread German-origin names in the world and has been found in books dating back to the 13th century.
The Spanheimer surname originated from a nickname used for someone who came from the town of Speyer, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It is thought to have derived from the Old High German word "span," which means "spoon."
Today, it is still relatively common in Germany, currently ranking in the top 2,000 surnames in the country. Similarly, in the United States it is estimated that there are around 4,000 individuals with the surname, making it the 2,702nd most common surname in the country.
Given its prevalence in Germany and the United States, as well as other countries throughout the world, it is clear that the surname Spanheimer is still quite common today.
Variations of the surname Spanheimer
The Spanheimer surname has been recorded in several different spellings and variants throughout its history. spellings and variants have included Spanheimer, Spengimann, Spanhelmer, Spannheimer, Spannheym, Spanhaimer, Spandheimer, Spangemann, and Spandhelm. This variation in spelling is due to the fact that in the 17th and 18th centuries, people recorded their names in all sorts of different ways. For example, Spanheimer might be written as Spanheimm, Spanheiniam or Spannhaimer.
The Spanheimer surname originally comes from Germany and is an occupational name for a metal worker. It derives from the German words “spanen”, meaning to forge, and “heimer” or “heimerdinger”, meaning a worker or craftsman. In some cases, the surname can also derive from place names such as Sponheim, a region of Germany. Additionally, it is possible that some people with this surname have Czech, Polish, or Slovak roots.
Overall, the Spanheimer surname has numerous variants and spellings, as well as some geographical roots. It is an occupational name that originated in Germany, although most people bearing this surname are of German descent. In some cases, it is possible to find Spanheimer surnames with Czech, Slovak and Polish heritage.
Famous people with the name Spanheimer
- Herman Spanheimer, a German sculptor and medallist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Johann Spanheimer, a German-American pastor, theologian, and diploma merchant who immigrated to the United States in 1867.
- Elisabeth Spanheimer, a German photographer active between the 1880s and the First World War.
- De Battista Spanheimer, a Spanish-Italian painter known for his still lifes and portraits of Baroque-style.
- Martin Spanheimer, a German art historian and author who published extensively on the topic of Gothic churches.
- Sebastian Spanheimer, a German luthier, or stringed instrument maker, active in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
- Johann Philip Spanheimer, a German Baroque composer and organist active in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
- Klaus Spanheimer, an Austrian-born cyclist who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Jürgen Spanheimer, a German footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Tamara Spanheimer, an American mathematician and computer scientist active in the mid-twentieth century.