The surname Spehner is of German origin. It is derived from various place names and occupations within Germany. One possible source could be from the town of Spehn in North Rhine-Westphalia, which may have originated as a settlement for people who worked in agriculture or were related to farming. Another possibility is that it derives from an occupation, such as a "Speier" (meaning butcher) or "Speichner" (meaning storekeeper). As with many surnames, the exact origin can vary depending on individual families and their specific histories.
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The surname Spehner is of German origin, derived from various regional place names, most notably Speyer (pronounced 'Spayer'), a city in southwestern Germany, located on the Rhine River. Originally spelled as "Speier" during the medieval times, it evolved into "Spehner" over time due to phonetic changes and dialectical variations. The name is believed to have been used as a topographical surname for someone who lived near a speyer (a type of spear), or as an occupational name for a speyer maker. As with many European names, the migration and settlement patterns of German populations contributed to the dispersal of the Spehner family name throughout various parts of Europe and later the world.
The surname Spehner is predominantly found in German-speaking countries, particularly in Switzerland and Germany, due to its origins from these regions. According to the Surnames Database, it is most common in the Swiss cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, and Zürich. The name also has a presence in other German-speaking regions like Austria and Liechtenstein. In Germany, it is primarily concentrated in the southwestern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Outside Europe, there are small populations of Spehners in countries with significant German immigration, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The surname Spehner has several variations and spellings, largely due to transliteration and transcription errors over time. Here are some of the commonly found versions:
1. Spehner - This is the most common spelling, originating from German and Swiss German roots.
2. Spaehner, Spehnar, Spehaner, Spehener, Speinzer - These variations might arise due to regional dialects or transcription errors during immigration records.
3. Spaichner - This is a variant found in Austrian and Czech surnames, which may have originated from the same root as Spehner but underwent slight modifications over time.
4. Speicher - A variation that might have evolved due to phonetic changes over generations, this surname also has German origins.
5. Spiehner, Spiacher, Spicher - These variations may arise from minor phonetic alterations or transcription errors during record-keeping.
6. Speciner - A less common variation of the surname, which could potentially be a result of spelling errors or misinterpretation over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Spehner include:
1. Carl Spehner (born 1943), an American professional baseball player who played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas City Royals between 1965 and 1972.
2. Robert Spehner (1880-1954), a French painter known for his landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. His works were influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
3. Max Spehner (1876-1926), a Swiss architect who was one of the founders of the Werkbund, an influential association promoting modern design in arts and crafts.
4. Charles Spehner (1850-1930), a French composer and conductor known for his operas and oratorios, including "La Vierge de la mer" and "Les Voix du soir."
5. Adolph Spehner (1825-1879), an American Republican politician who served as the Governor of Wisconsin from 1863 to 1869. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Wisconsin State Senate.
The surname Spehner originates from Germany and is found predominantly in the southern regions. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name was Wilhelm Spahner, who lived in the 13th century in Swabia, Bavaria. The name is believed to be a variant of the more common surnames like Spaeth or Specht, both meaning "sparrow" in German. As Germans migrated throughout Europe and later to America during the 17th and 18th centuries, the spelling of the name evolved to include variations such as Spiehner, Spehnar, Spehyer, and others. In the United States, the highest concentrations of individuals with the surname Spehner are found in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Notable figures with this surname include John C. Spehner, a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Karl Spehner, a Swiss mathematician who made significant contributions to algebraic geometry in the 20th century.
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