Surname Spragg - Meaning and Origin
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Spragg: What does the surname Spragg mean?
The surname Spragg is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the word sapling or young tree, specifically a root sprout or twig. It is considered a metonymic occupational name for a person who was a woodworker, or who gathered and sold firewood or fencing. The term for this in Old English was "sprecc" or in Middle English "spragge." Therefore, the name is likely to have been given to individuals who were known for these occupations in a community. Like many surnames, it provides a historical reflection of the kind of work that our ancestors might have done. Throughout centuries, various spelling versions like Spragg, Sprig, Spriggs, etc. have been found in public records. This name began to emerge during the era when many people in Europe adopted hereditary surnames, specifically during the 12th and 13th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSpragg: Where does the name Spragg come from?
The last name Spragg is most commonly found originating from places in the British Isles. The surname is derived from Old English and comes from the word "sprecer" which means "a person who lived by a hedge or slope". The name became “Spragg” in Norman French during the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Spragg is still fairly common in Yorkshire, England and the surrounding areas. The name is not as frequent as other English last names such as Smith or Jones, but the name can still be found around the United Kingdom today. The name is also found in South Africa and the United States, although much more sparsely than in Britain. In these countries, the last name is most commonly associated with those of British descent. It is also possible to find the name Spragg in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, as the surname has traveled around the world with British immigrants.
Due to the fact that the last name Spragg is fairly uncommon, most people with the name can trace it back to some connection with England. As time goes on, the name is continuing to spread across the globe and can now be found in many countries outside of the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Spragg
The surname Spragg (also sometimes spelled Sprake, Spraig, and Sprack) is of English origin. It is an occupational name, derived from the Middle English “spragg”, a qualifier indicating a person employed in physical labor. Historically, the surname Spragg referred to an individual who worked as a farmer, laborer, or an outdoor worker.
Variants of the surname Spragg include Sprake, Spraig, and Sprack. It is possible that these variants are derived from regional pronunciations and/or dialectical variations of the same word. Further, there are a few cases where “Spragg” may be a derivative of other surnames such as Sprake, which has English roots, as well as from Welsh surnames such as Sprag.
In addition, there are a number of variants of the name which may not refer to the same origin. These include variants such as Sprague, Sprage, Spraggs, Spraug, and Sprad. These names generally originate from the Old English elements “spryc” and “ġe”, and may mean “spear blade” or “spear hedge”, respectively.
In conclusion, the surname Spragg may have a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Sprake, Spraig, Sprack, Sprague, Sprage, Spraggs, Spraug, and Sprad. These all vary depending on the regional accent and/or dialect used when speaking the word.
Famous people with the name Spragg
- Roger Spragg: British actor who has starred in a number of British television shows like “EastEnders” and “The Bill”.
- Judy Spragg: Australian entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Florence & Marabel, a fashion label with a focus on sustainability.
- Thomas Spragg: British-born Canadian landscape painter who was part of the Manitoulin School of Painting.
- Dean Spragg: Former American actor and director in films and television shows like “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” and “Miami Vice”.
- Hammond Spragg: British musical composer who has worked on various Broadway musicals like “Follies”.
- Lucy Spragg: American singer and songwriter who won the 2020 American Indie Music Award for her folk-inspired music.
- Andrew Spragg: Canadian filmmaker and actor who directed the award-winning documentary “Waiting for Spring” and starred in the short film “The Voice of a Stranger”.
- Arthur Spragg: British Anglican reverend and pioneer of pastoral care in hospitals, who was the chaplain of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Larry Spragg: American artist and painter who is known for his vibrant abstract work. He has exhibited his work at galleries in New York City and Los Angeles.
- Francis Spragg: English astronomer who, in 1886, was the first to describe the dark regions on the Moon and their structure.