Surname Spanihel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Spanihel: What does the surname Spanihel mean?
The last name Spanihel is of Germanic origin, largely stemming from German Protestant immigrants in the United States. The surname is derived from the German surname “Spanheimer,” which in turn derives from the combination of the German word for “span,” meaning “beam” or “girder” and “heim,” which means “home.” The combination gives the name the meaning of someone who “lives in a home built from beams,” likely referring to a timber home, the most common type of rural housing at the time of the name’s origin. The name was adopted by many German immigrant families in the United States in the late 19th century.
The name is often misspelled or mispronounced as “Spaniehl.” It most likely saw alterations in the transition from Germany, where the original spelling is used, to the United States. The most common use of the name today is to recognize the sizeable population of Spanihels that made their home in the Midwest, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.
Today, the name is less common in Germany, but still remains relatively widespread in the United States, particularly the Midwest. Many Americans of German descent still carry the name, and likely have a connection to the first settlers.
Order DNA origin analysisSpanihel: Where does the name Spanihel come from?
The last name Spanihel is most commonly found in Central European countries such as Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. It is also found in parts of the United States, especially among the states which have a large Central European population, such as Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
The surname is of Slovak origin and means "the holy one," and may indicate that the original bearers of the name were members of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches.
Spanihel is also a popular name in the Czech Republic, and is commonly found among Czechs living in other countries, including the United States.
It is noted for being an uncommon spelling of the name, and can be found on some historical documents. The spelling might also be a variant of Spaniel, a name of Slavic origin.
This surname and its variants are not to be confused with Spaniel, or with Spanheim, a German name which was derived from a town in Germany. The name Spanheim is very rare in comparison.
The surname Spanihel is not especially common today, but can still be found in some countries, particularly those with a large Central European population.
Variations of the surname Spanihel
The surname Spanihel is derived from the German word Spähn, which means “lookout” or “scout”. This name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was good at keeping a lookout or was particularly vigilant. Over the years, the spelling of the name has changed—spelling variants include Schpanhil, Spänhel, Spanhel, and Spanihel. Other surnames with similar origins include Spänhelm, Spannheim, Spannhyndt, Spannheller, and Spähnel.
In Germany, the name is most commonly seen as Spähn or Span. It has also been found in its various spellings in Austria and Switzerland. After emigrating to the United States in the late 19th century, many German families changed the spelling of the name to Spanel, with some American families now using the spelling Spanihel.
In some cases, the name is found spelled with an 'r', such as Spranhel or Spranhel—a variant of Spanhel. In some instances, the surname has been Anglicized to Spaniel or Spanner. In addition, the German name Spannagel (meaning "nail") is also derived from the same root. It is also worth noting that the name Spohn is derived from the German word Spahn, meaning “wooded area”.
There is also evidence that the name Spanihel is derived from a location—Spänhel, which is a place near Eppan, South Tyrol, Italy. In this case, the name would have been used to denote a person who came from or who had a connection to this place.
Famous people with the name Spanihel
- Michelle Spanihel: Actress
- Michael Spanihel: Producer and Director
- Terry Spanihel: Actor
- Monika Spanihel: Model and TV Personality
- Melissa Spanihel: Voice Actress
- Kayla Spanihel: Singer/Songwriter
- Rick Spanihel: Comedian
- Bob Spanihel: Olympic Weightlifter
- Brian Spanihel: Professional Wrestler
- Joseph Spanihel: Baseball Player