Surname Späth - Meaning and Origin
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Späth: What does the surname Späth mean?
The last name Späth is a German surname and has two distinct origins. Firstly, it is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word 'spat', which means 'spider'. This origin of the name Späth could suggest that the original bearer of the name was an early ancestor that was known to be an expert weaver.
It is also believed that the name Späth is an occupational name. In this instance, it would be derived from the word 'spath', which means a blacksmith and refers to a person who worked in some way with metal. Interestingly, it is also believed to refer to someone who worked as a swordsmith or a knife sharpener.
Regardless of the origin of the name, Späth is a popular name in Germany. Historically, it was common in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is currently found in several countries across Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
The name Späth is still quite common in modern Germany today. It is estimated that there are over 45,000 individuals in Germany with this surname. It is also common amongst German immigrants in the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisSpäth: Where does the name Späth come from?
The last name Späth is a relatively uncommon surname today, particularly outside of Germany where it is most common. According to Ancestry.com, Späth is found most prominently in Germany, particularly in the Bavarian region. The number of people carrying this name in Germany is relatively small, with a total population of only 346 people in this country, who primarily reside in the areas of München, Augsburg, and Erlangen.
Outside of Germany, Späth also appears to be fairly uncommon, as data from the U.S. Census Bureau of 2019 states that only 26 individuals are recorded as having the last name, primarily living in states such as New Jersey, California and Ohio. It appears to be more popular in Latino-dominated countries such as Chile, where 173 Späths were found living in this country in 2019. Census data from other countries such as Canada, the UK, and Mexico suggested that the number of people with this last name living in these countries was quite small.
Späth is the name of a German noble family, and it seems likely that individuals with this surname are descendants of the Counts of Späth. Living Späths can trace their ancestry to a small number of noble families, all of whom can be found in records in the Bavarian region of Germany.
Variations of the surname Späth
The surname Späth—which is likely derived from the German for ‘spade’—has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common alternate spelling for this surname is Speth, which is the form used primarily in Germany. Other variations include Spethmann, Spethe, Spethl, Spethmüller, Spieth, and Spiethmann.
Outside of Germany, the surname has appeared with various spellings including Spait, Spayth, Spayte, Speat, Speeth, Speight, Spet, Spete, Speth, Spieght, and Spitte.
Surnames that have evolved from the original spellings of Späth include Spadt, Spat, Spath, Speath, Speit, and Spetl.
The surname can also be found as an Indian name, Spaith.
Spayth/Spayte and Speight/Speite are two variations of the surname found in the United States, as well as other Brunanter variants such as Spyte/Spiete, Spietz, Spys/Spijs, and Spijer.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the surname is often found as Spate. Speight, Speighte, Speit, Speite, Spet, Spetle, Spith, and Spyth are other variants found in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Other variants found mainly in Europe are Spaid, Spait, Spayd, Spaidt, Spaytt, Spead, Speat, Speede, Speet, Speith, Speythe, Spiet, Spiett, Spit, Spite, Spoid, Spoidt, Spoytt, and Spoytte.
In some cases, the surname has been changed to Speed, as this was the English equivalent of Späth.
Famous people with the name Späth
- Fritz Späth: German botanist and horticulturist. He was one of the founding fathers of modern bonsai culture, founding the Späth nursery in 1840.
- Joseph Späth: German-American architect and builder from New York. He was most known for his church designs.
- Philip Späth: German composer, conductor, and music teacher from the mid-19th century.
- Eduard Späth: German architect, engineer, and painter from the early 20th century. His most famous work is the Federal Mortgage Bank in London.
- Günter Späth: German politician from the state of Baden-Württemberg. He served as the state's Minister-President from 1979-1985.
- Wolfgang Späth: German cinematographer and film director who worked in both Germany and the US. He was most known for his award-winning documentary film "Le Tour de France" (1934)
- Karl Späth: Swiss sculptor who worked primarily in bronze. He created many public works of art, including a fountain for the city of Basel.
- Rudolf Späth: German painter and illustrator from the early 20th century. He was best known for his illustrations of fairy tales, as well as for his female portrait paintings.
- Ernst Späth: German and Australian politician who was active in both countries. In Australia, he was a two-term state premier, and in Germany, he served in a variety of political roles.
- Lina Späth: German stage and film actress who worked primarily during the 1920s and 1930s. She was also known for her radio and television work in later years.