NameCensus.

UK surname

Speare

An English surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "woodpecker" or "maker of woodpecker tools."

In the 1881 census there were 133 people recorded with the Speare surname, ranking it #16,676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, down from #16,676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger, Upton Pyne, Bramford Speke and Inwardleigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Speare is 153 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.

1881 census count

133

Ranked #16,676

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

1911

153 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Speare had 133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Speare surname distribution map

The map shows where the Speare surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Speare surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Speare over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 94 #17,837
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 133 #16,676
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 136 #22,855
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 131 #24,282
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Speares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger, Upton Pyne, Bramford Speke, Inwardleigh, Yealmpton and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Central Bedfordshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon
2 Upton Pyne, Bramford Speke Devon
3 Inwardleigh Devon
4 Yealmpton Devon
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 025 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 004 Cornwall
5 Central Bedfordshire 007 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Speare

These lists show first names that appear often with the Speare surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Speare

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Speare, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Speare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Speare household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Speare is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Speare is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Speare falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Speare is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Speare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Speare

The surname "SPEARE" is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "spere," which referred to a spear or javelin, suggesting a potential connection to soldiers, warriors, or soldiers of that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named "Willelmus Speare" in the county of Oxfordshire.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records, often with slight variations in spelling, such as "Spere," "Speir," or "Speyre." These variations likely reflected regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Sir John Speare (c. 1320-1380), a knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was recognized for his valor in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

The name "SPEARE" also has associations with certain place names in England, particularly the village of Spear in Berkshire, which was recorded as "Spera" in the Domesday Book. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

Another prominent individual with this surname was William Speare (c. 1510-1567), a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He is known for his philanthropic contributions, including the establishment of a free school in his hometown of Arundel, West Sussex.

In the 17th century, the name gained literary significance with the renowned English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Although the spelling of his surname differs from "SPEARE," some scholars have speculated that the names may share a common origin or ancestral connection.

Other notable individuals with the surname "SPEARE" include Sir Thomas Speare (1635-1704), a British politician and member of Parliament for Arundel, and John Speare (1752-1832), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in New Hampshire.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "SPEARE" has undergone various spelling variations, reflecting the evolution of language and regional influences. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, with connections to warfare, place names, and notable historical figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Speare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Speare surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 57 Speares recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.11x.

County Total Index
Devon 57 21.11x
Cornwall 23 15.66x
Middlesex 16 1.23x
Warwickshire 8 2.45x
Glamorgan 7 3.10x
Cheshire 6 2.10x
Lancashire 5 0.32x
Kent 3 0.68x
Hampshire 2 0.75x
Somerset 2 0.96x
Wiltshire 2 1.74x
Dorset 1 1.17x
Surrey 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saltash in Cornwall leads with 12 Speares recorded in 1881 and an index of 1052.63x.

Place Total Index
Saltash 12 1052.63x
Upton Pyne 11 6111.11x
St Martin In Fields 9 115.83x
Yealmpton 8 1951.22x
Aston 7 7.77x
Penarth 7 316.74x
Uplyme 7 1750.00x
Monks Coppenhall 6 55.50x
Thrushelton 6 3157.89x
Northlew 5 1470.59x
Stoke Climsland 5 531.91x
Ardwick 4 28.80x
Kensington London 4 5.55x
St Ive 4 425.53x
Berry Pomeroy 3 666.67x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 48.54x
Hougham 3 114.07x
Inwardleigh 3 1304.35x
Islington London 3 2.39x
Tormoham 3 26.25x
Bovey Tracey 2 212.77x
Bridestow 2 689.66x
West Tisbury 2 571.43x
Ashburton 1 77.52x
Birmingham 1 0.92x
Braunton 1 108.70x
Calstock 1 34.72x
Denton 1 29.33x
Duloe 1 232.56x
Holdenhurst 1 14.33x
Parkstone 1 101.01x
Penge 1 12.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.81x
Southampton All Sts 1 21.93x
Walcot 1 8.99x
Wolborough 1 29.33x
Yeovil 1 23.58x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Speare surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Speare surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 9
John 7
Daniel 4
George 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Emanuel 2
Frederick 2
Lewis 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Lomise 1
Marsena 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Pollie 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Theodore 1

FAQ

Speare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Speare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 133 people were recorded with the Speare surname. That placed it at #16,676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Speare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Speare a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Speare surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Middle English word meaning "woodpecker" or "maker of woodpecker tools."

What does the Speare map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Speare bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.