Speir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Speir surname comes from the Old English word "spere," meaning "spear." It may have originally been a nickname for a tall skinny person, or perhaps for a hunter skilled at using the spear. Alternatively, the could have been used for a "watchman or lookout man." 1 2 3

Another source notes: "Spere, to ask, to inquire; a word used formerly in Scotland and the north of Ireland." 4

Early Origins of the Speir family

The surname Speir was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland.

Further to the south in Yorkshire, England, the first record of the family was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 when Robertas Spyer was listed there at that time. 2

By the 16th century, Richard Spyre was listed as attending Oxford University in 1515; and George Speris was listed in Stirling, Scotland in 1548. 3

Early History of the Speir family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Speir research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1417, 1475, 1626, 1664, 1807, 1846, 1869, 1884 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Speir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Speir Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Speir, Spier, Spears, Speirs, Spiers, Speer, Speers, Spere, Speres, Spire, Spires, Speyer, Speier, Speery and many more.

Early Notables of the Speir family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Thomas Speir of Edinburgh, a merchant, 1626...

Migration of the Speir family to Ireland

Some of the Speir family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Speir migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Speir Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Speir, who landed in Virginia in 1701 5
Jane Speir, who arrived in America in 1774 5
Alexander Speir, who settled in Wilmington North Carolina in 1774
Alexander Speir, aged 19, who arrived in North Carolina in 1774 5

Speir Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Speir, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 5
Jane Speir, aged 25, who arrived in America from Londonderry, in 1892
Mary E. Speir, aged 28, who arrived in America from Glasgow, in 1892
Samuel Speir, aged 23, who arrived in America, in 1894
Margaret Speir, aged 45, who arrived in America, in 1895
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Speir Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Kenneth Robert Mapie Speir, aged 27, who arrived in America from Loughborough, in 1904
Mrs. Francis Speir, who arrived in America, in 1906
Oswald Speir, aged 14, who arrived in America, in 1907
Gottfried Speir, aged 7, who arrived in America, in 1907
Adolphos Speir, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Speir (post 1700) +

Mark Speir, American head coach of the Western Carolina Catamounts college football team
Henry Columbus "H.C." Speir (1895-1972), American record store owner who helped launch the recording careers of many Mississippi blues musicians in the 1920s and 1930s
Dona Speir (b. 1964), American model
Rupert Malise Speir (1910-1998), British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Hexham (1951–1966)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)