Surname Speake - Meaning and Origin

Speake: What does the surname Speake mean?

The surname Speake is of Old English origin, derived from the pre 7th century word "spec" meaning "speech" or "discussion." It is believed to be a metonymic occupational name for a spokesperson or a person who spoke on behalf of others in an official or professional capacity. This could be someone who was known for their eloquence, persuasive speech, or ability to public speak effectively. The first known recordings of the Speake surname come from the late Middle Ages in the county of Worcestershire, England. As with many Old English surnames, the original meaning of the name could have differed from its current interpretation, due to changes in language and societal roles over time.

Speake: Where does the name Speake come from?

The last name Speake is of English origin and is extremely uncommon. While Speake is most commonly found in the United States, records also show its presence in Canada, Australia, England, and Scotland. According to the United States Census of 2010, there were only 831 people with the last name Speake living in the U.S.

The highest concentration of the last name Speake is in California. California is home to 321 people who share the Speake name, followed by Texas with 168 Speakes, Ohio with 103 Speakes, and Florida with 102 Speakes.

Speake is an incredibly rare surname, and many people who share this last name are related. Speake is a variant spelling of Speak and is often spelled as several other derivatives including: Speakman, Speaks, Skeake, and Speakey.

The origins of the Speake name can be traced back to the early-medieval period in England. Speake was originally a nickname based on the Old English “speaking” which meant “talkative”. It is likely that many Speakes held positions of authority in their early communities and were respected for their loquaciousness and communicative acumen.

Overall, the last name Speake is widely scattered throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, England, and Scotland. It is still incredibly rare and those who share this name are likely to be related in some way.

Variations of the surname Speake

Speake is a surname derived from Old English, which is still a popular surname today. It is often spelled in its original form, but like many older surnames, there are variations in spelling.

Most often, “Speake” appears as: Speake, Speak, Speakee, Speache, Speacer, Speaches, Speacht, Spake, Spaker, Spakes, Spakeman, Speck, Speakman, Speek, Speick, Spieck, Speicher, Speiker, and Speer. There are many others, but these are the more common spellings.

The complicated spelling of the surname Speake can be attributed to the fact that until the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were no strict rules for how surnames should be spelt. It was up to the person recording the name to decide how to spell it, and given the same pronunciation, it could be spelt in any number of ways.

In more modern times, people who are looking for their Speake ancestors can also search for variants including Speck, Speakman, Speicher, and Speiker.

Surnames of the same origin include Speare, Speer, Spearing, Sparrow, and Sparhawk. It is possible that people with these surnames might be related to people with the surname Speake, as the terms are linguistically related.

The Speake surname is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, with smaller numbers in Australia and Canada. It is still an active surname today, and many people proudly carry the name of their ancestors.

Famous people with the name Speake

• Laura Speake: British Paralympic alpine sit skier.
• Joe Speake: American country singer-songwriter.
• Geoffrey Speake: British actor.
• Karl Speake: English association footballer.
• Gavin Speake: English former professional association footballer.
• Richard Speake: English professional association footballer.
• Kody Speake: American professional wrestler.
• Sarah Speake: British actress.
• David Speake: British cricketer.
• Brian Speake: British professional wrestler.
• Ronald M. Speake: American United States Navy four-star admiral.
• Peter Speake-Marin: British watchmaker and the founder of the independent watch company Speake-Marin.
• Merle Speake: American bootmaker and owner of the bootmaking company Speake Brothers Boots.
• Neil Speake: British cricketer.
• Mary Speake: British stage and television actress.
• Albert Speake: English former professional association footballer.
• Mike Speake: British former professional association footballer.
• Sarah Speake: British contemporary visual artist.
• Jack Speake: English former professional association footballer.
• Roger Speake: English former professional association footballer.

Other surnames

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