Show ContentsSpielmann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the German surname Spielmann lie in the kingdom of Bavaria, where the name originated. Spielmann is an occupational name, deriving from the Middle High German verb "spillen," meaning "to play, jest, sport." Thus, it is likely that the name was originally borne by an actor or a jester.

Early Origins of the Spielmann family

The surname Spielmann was first found in the city of Offenburg, in modern Baden-Wuerttemburg, where the name Spielman could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name Spielmann became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in a constantly changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Spielmann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Spielmann research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1626, 1722, 1783, 1786 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Spielmann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Spielmann Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Spielmann, Spielman, Spellman, Spelmann, Spellmann, Speilman, Speillmann, Spillman, Spillmann, Spilman and many more.

Early Notables of the Spielmann family

Prominent among members of the name Spielmann in this period include

  • Friedrich Anton Spielmann, an eighteenth-century German writer, and Jakob Reinbold Spielmann (1722-1783), a physician and chemist


United States Spielmann migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Spielmann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Spielmann and his wife Maria, who arrived in Virginia in 1714
  • Johannes Spielmann, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [1]
  • Leonhard Spielmann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773 [1]
Spielmann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Engelbert Spielmann, who arrived in America in 1830 [1]
  • G F Spielmann, who landed in Missouri in 1841 [1]
  • Frederick Spielmann, aged 46, who landed in Missouri in 1844 [1]
  • John Henry Spielmann, aged 24, who arrived in Missouri in 1846 [1]
  • Anna Spielmann, aged 23, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1893 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Spielmann (post 1700) +

  • Peter James Spielmann (b. 1952), American journalist and educator
  • Johannes Spielmann (1916-2005), German Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Andrew Spielmann, America entomologist at Harvard University
  • Dean Spielmann (b. 1962), Luxembourg lawyer, current Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
  • Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942), Austrian chess player, known for the Spielmann Variation
  • Philip Spielmann Nielsen (b. 1992), Danish electronica artist
  • Marion Harry Alexander Spielmann (1858-1948), English art critic, editor of The Connoisseur and Magazine of Art
  • Götz Spielmann (b. 1961), Austrian Academy Award nominated film director


  1. 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)


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