NameCensus.

UK surname

Spiers

An occupational surname for one who made spears or worked as a watchman or guard.

In the 1881 census there were 2,468 people recorded with the Spiers surname, ranking it #1,802 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,604, ranked #1,882, down from #1,802 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thrashbush, Wychavon and Gloucester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spiers is 3,920 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.0%.

1881 census count

2,468

Ranked #1,802

Modern count

3,604

2016, ranked #1,882

Peak year

2000

3,920 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spiers had 2,468 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,802 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,604 in 2016, ranked #1,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,252 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Spiers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spiers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spiers 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 1,395 #2,056
1861 historical 1,440 #1,974
1881 historical 2,468 #1,802
1891 historical 2,718 #1,743
1901 historical 3,252 #1,714
1911 historical 2,568 #1,994
1997 modern 3,682 #1,759
1998 modern 3,868 #1,742
1999 modern 3,907 #1,742
2000 modern 3,920 #1,729
2001 modern 3,776 #1,747
2002 modern 3,855 #1,757
2003 modern 3,721 #1,779
2004 modern 3,652 #1,815
2005 modern 3,587 #1,821
2006 modern 3,587 #1,822
2007 modern 3,619 #1,819
2008 modern 3,663 #1,810
2009 modern 3,731 #1,821
2010 modern 3,830 #1,815
2011 modern 3,742 #1,835
2012 modern 3,584 #1,876
2013 modern 3,663 #1,875
2014 modern 3,668 #1,881
2015 modern 3,633 #1,875
2016 modern 3,604 #1,882

Geography

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Where Spiers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thrashbush, Wychavon and Gloucester. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thrashbush North Lanarkshire
2 Wychavon 013 Wychavon
3 Gloucester 007 Gloucester
4 Wychavon 011 Wychavon
5 Wychavon 019 Wychavon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spiers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spiers

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Spiers, 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 Spiers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Spiers 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Spiers is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Spiers 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

Spiers 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 Spiers 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 Spiers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Spiers

The surname Spiers is of English origin and traces its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "spere," which referred to a spear or lance, a weapon commonly used during those times. This occupational surname was likely initially given to someone who made or sold spears, or perhaps even to a skilled spearman or soldier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "Willmus le Spere." The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing insight into the usage of surnames in various parts of England during that period.

In the 14th century, the name surfaced in various forms, including "Spereman" and "Spermonger," further reinforcing its connection to the spear trade or profession. These variations highlight the fluidity of surname spellings during the Middle Ages before standardization became more widespread.

The Spiers surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as Spiers in Fife, Scotland, and Speers Point in New South Wales, Australia. However, it is unclear whether these locations were named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa.

Notable individuals with the Spiers surname throughout history include:

1. William Spiers (1820-1887), a Scottish-born American architect known for designing several prominent buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Smithsonian Institution Building and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

2. John Spiers (1888-1966), a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the early 20th century.

3. Gerry Spiers (born 1954), a former professional footballer from Northern Ireland who played for several clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

4. Richard Spiers (1838-1916), an English-born Australian journalist and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

5. Alexander Spiers (1809-1892), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

While the Spiers surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, its historical roots and connections to the spear trade and profession provide an intriguing glimpse into the lives and occupations of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spiers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spiers 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. Lanarkshire leads with 303 Spiers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.90x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 303 3.90x
Middlesex 281 1.17x
Worcestershire 246 7.83x
Warwickshire 178 2.94x
Ayrshire 145 8.06x
Surrey 124 1.06x
Hampshire 112 2.27x
Lancashire 100 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 76 5.23x
Gloucestershire 71 1.51x
Midlothian 66 2.05x
Renfrewshire 61 3.27x
Staffordshire 50 0.62x
Leicestershire 49 1.84x
Kent 44 0.54x
Oxfordshire 43 2.90x
Perthshire 38 3.52x
Yorkshire 36 0.15x
Berkshire 30 1.66x
Sussex 29 0.72x
Dunbartonshire 27 4.18x
Berwickshire 26 8.93x
Durham 23 0.32x
Bedfordshire 22 1.77x
Selkirkshire 22 10.11x
Hertfordshire 21 1.27x
Wiltshire 21 0.99x
Northamptonshire 20 0.88x
Stirlingshire 19 2.14x
Angus 16 0.72x
Derbyshire 15 0.40x
Roxburghshire 14 3.21x
Buteshire 13 8.92x
Essex 13 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.37x
Fife 10 0.70x
West Lothian 10 2.76x
Northumberland 8 0.22x
Somerset 8 0.21x
Brecknockshire 7 1.46x
Cumberland 7 0.34x
Monmouthshire 7 0.40x
Shropshire 7 0.34x
Devon 5 0.10x
Royal Navy 5 1.74x
East Lothian 4 1.26x
Wigtownshire 4 1.25x
Glamorgan 3 0.07x
Herefordshire 3 0.30x
Anglesey 2 0.47x
Argyllshire 2 0.30x
Cheshire 2 0.04x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.50x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Kincardineshire 1 0.34x
Peeblesshire 1 0.88x
Suffolk 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 84 Spiers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

Place Total Index
Barony 84 4.27x
Glasgow 65 4.71x
Govan 54 2.81x
Birmingham 46 2.28x
Aston 42 2.52x
Evesham St Lawrence 42 251.80x
Islington London 29 1.24x
St Pancras London 28 1.45x
Liverpool 27 1.56x
Camberwell 26 1.69x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 26 2.01x
Alton 24 64.60x
Redditch 23 36.12x
Shoreditch London 23 2.21x
Bothwell 22 10.43x
Marsh Gibbon 20 326.80x
Bishampton 18 511.36x
Dundonald 18 27.12x
Leicester St Margaret 17 2.61x
Offenham 17 374.45x
Blantyre 16 19.76x
Langton 16 384.62x
Leamington 16 39.82x
Spitalfields London 16 8.85x
Evesham All Sts 15 102.53x
Kings Norton 15 5.33x
Paddington London 15 1.70x
South Leith 15 4.14x
Tarbolton 15 50.64x
West Bromwich 15 3.23x
Abbey 14 4.92x
Loudoun 14 32.35x
Oxford St Aldate 14 89.57x
St Quivox 14 23.01x
Tewkesbury 14 33.26x
Clerkenwell London 13 2.29x
Galashiels 13 16.16x
Kirknewton 13 140.39x
Lambeth 13 0.62x
Old Kilpatrick 13 17.02x
Riccarton Hurlford 13 41.18x
Accrington 12 4.63x
Ayr 12 14.13x
Blairgowrie 12 28.11x
Coughton 12 618.56x
Leighton Buzzard 12 22.40x
Studley 12 46.28x
Upton Cum Chalvey 12 20.71x
Caputh 11 64.78x
Chilton 11 484.58x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 12.72x
Hinckley 11 17.39x
Pershore St Andrew 11 63.47x
Southwark St Saviour 11 8.90x
Worcester St Martin 11 25.97x
Barnes 10 20.18x
Brighton 10 1.22x
East Greenock 10 5.68x
Holybourne 10 205.76x
Inverkip 10 22.77x
Little Cheverell 10 546.45x
Newent 10 41.72x
Toxteth Park 10 1.04x
Bow London 9 2.94x
Bromley London 9 1.70x
Dailly 9 49.02x
East Meon 9 69.93x
Leyton 9 11.01x
Neilston 9 9.62x
Sculcoates 9 2.38x
Selkirk 9 14.68x
St Andrew Holborn 9 11.04x
Stoulton 9 295.08x
Twickenham 9 8.73x
Upton On Severn 9 43.75x
Battersea 8 0.90x
Coylton 8 31.34x
Maidstone 8 3.27x
St Marylebone London 8 0.62x
Wapping London 8 43.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 93
Sarah 70
Elizabeth 58
Ann 40
Annie 37
Jane 27
Alice 25
Eliza 24
Ellen 23
Emily 21
Emma 18
Hannah 16
Louisa 16
Maria 15
Edith 14
Caroline 13
Charlotte 12
Florence 12
Ada 11
Catherine 11
Harriet 11
Kate 10
Clara 9
Harriett 9
Rose 9
Amelia 8
Margaret 8
Minnie 8
Anne 7
Frances 7
Julia 7
Martha 7
Rebecca 7
Amy 6
Fanny 6
Lucy 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Agnes 5
Jessie 5
Lizzie 5
Phoebe 5
Sophia 5
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Grace 4
Henrietta 4
Lilian 4
Margt. 4
Rachel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 108
John 72
Thomas 62
James 54
George 50
Charles 44
Henry 34
Alfred 28
Joseph 26
Edward 20
Frederick 20
Richard 19
Arthur 18
Harry 12
Walter 12
Albert 11
Edwin 11
Frank 11
Robert 10
Herbert 9
Benjamin 8
Ernest 8
Samuel 8
David 6
Wm. 5
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Percy 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Anthony 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jeremiah 2
Josiah 2
Nehemiah 2
Noah 2
Reuben 2
Thos 2
Tom 2
Arundel 1
Athelstance 1
Dan 1
Edmund 1
Gavin 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Spiers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spiers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,468 people were recorded with the Spiers surname. That placed it at #1,802 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spiers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,604 in 2016. That gives Spiers a modern rank of #1,882.

What does the Spiers surname mean?

An occupational surname for one who made spears or worked as a watchman or guard.

What does the Spiers map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Spiers 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.