Show ContentsGreenspoon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Greenspoon is etymologically derived from "gruen" meaning "green." It is thought that the name Greenspoon may have been of occupational origin for a chemist who specialized in working with verdigris, a basic acetate of copper used as a green pigment or dye. Alternatively, Greenspoon may have been of nickname origin. Here the name would likely indicate somebody who liked to wear green clothes. And finally, the name may also derive from the Middle Low German "grone" or "groen" meaning "greedy for."

Early Origins of the Greenspoon family

The surname Greenspoon was first found in the southwest corner of Germany where the name has been found in records dating from the 13th century. The earliest found citing of this name shows that Frater (brother) Cuonrad, a monk called Grueni, lived in Heiligkreuztal, near Saulgau, in the year 1286. Other early records of this name include Johann Christof von der Gruen, a councilor of the Kurpfalz (an area in southwest Germany).

Early History of the Greenspoon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greenspoon research. The year 1749 is included under the topic Early Greenspoon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greenspoon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gruen, Gruenauer, Gruenbacher, Gruenberger, Gruenhut, Gruenmann, Gruenspan and many more.

Early Notables of the Greenspoon family

More information is included under the topic Early Greenspoon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Greenspoon family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Christoph Gruen who went to North America in 1777; Hienrich Gruen who came to North America in 1783; Johann Gruen who sailed to North America in 1737. Franz Gruen settled in Texas in 1845 and Friedrich Gruen immigrated to North America in 1832 at the age of 2. James Gruen settled in Ontario in 1871.


Contemporary Notables of the name Greenspoon (post 1700) +

  • Jimmy Greenspoon (1948-2015), American keyboard player and composer, best known as a member of the band Three Dog Night
  • Danny Greenspoon, Canadian two-time Gemini Award winning music producer, music engineer, guitar player and film composer, his albums have been nominated 16 times for Juno Awards, winning five times


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