The Speer surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,770 people carried this name — #3,041 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 25,100 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (11,749).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Speer surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the spier’.

An early record he cites: Robertus Spyer, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Spyer, Speer, Spier, Spire, Spear and Spiers.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 710 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 40 people named Speer.

12 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 12
Nord 21
Paris 3
Pas-de-Calais 2
Bas-Rhin 1
Seine-Maritime 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Poland’s population register

37 people named Speer have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 62 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 4 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Silesian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Silesian 24
Lower Silesian 9
Masovian 2
Greater Poland 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

24 people named Speer live in Switzerland.

They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Thurgau.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Thurgau 8
Basel-Stadt 5
Ticino 4
Zurich 4
Geneva 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In print

Speer in American newspapers,
1911–1914.

Newspaper page from The Ogden Standard carrying the name Speer
The Ogden Standard 1914-06-23
Newspaper page from The Fort Sumner Review carrying the name Speer
The Fort Sumner Review 1911-05-13
Newspaper page from Las Vegas Optic carrying the name Speer
Las Vegas Optic 1911-01-16

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Speer in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1990s.

6,646 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Speer. The most, 1,177, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 2.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 4,813
Victoria 615
Western Australia 417
Queensland 359
South Australia 320
Tasmania 88
ACT (Canberra) 17
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Speer.

Who carried it

People named Speer,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Wilhelm Franz Speer
    Wilhelm Franz Speer 1823–1898 · composer
  • Mary Barnsley Speer d. 1943
  • Daniel Speer 1636–1707 · writer
  • Martin Speer 1702–1765 · engraver
  • William Speer 1764–1844
  • Alexander M. Speer 1820–1897 · judge

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Speer,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,195 records

1,195 records of the Speer name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 479
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 241
  • Other U.S. records 475
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James Edward Speer

    Born 1918 in Arkansas. Enlisted 1944 at Camp Josepth T Robinson Little Rock; electrician. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Thornton, Arkansas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Peter Speer

    Arrived at New York in 1907 aboard the America from Cuxhaven, aged 24; farm laborer. From St. Peter, Hungary; bound for Philadelphia. Born in Szt. Peter, Hungary.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Louis Leon Speer

    Born 1948; from Dupont, Indiana. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,195 records for Speer in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany430 records

430 records of the Speer name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 428
  • German emigration and citizenship files 1
  • German estate files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Fritz Speer

    Born 1899; from Schüttorf, Bentheim. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 4 December 1918 (Field Artillery Regiment No. 237).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Berthold Speer

    Estate settled in 1908.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Albert Speer

    Born 1884; from Pomehlen, Mohrungen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 4 December 1918 (Grenadier Regiment No. 2).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 430 records for Speer in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands93 records

93 records of the Speer name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 47
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 24
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 22
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Ferinanda Speer

    Married in 1835 in Haarlem; seamstress. Died 1857 in Haarlem, aged 47.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Otto Johann Karl Speer

    Married in 1925 in Valburg; merchant.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Julius Speer

    In the population register of Maastricht; "mechaniekwerker", born 1821.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 93 records for Speer in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia90 records

90 records of the Speer name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 45
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 33
  • Other Australian records 12
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Speer

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Lightning, aged 19; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Speer

    Retired of Frankston, Victoria; died 1978.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Thomas Speer

    Left Launceston in 1852 aboard the Vixen, bound for Melbourne.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 90 records for Speer in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Canada22 records

22 records of the Speer name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 8
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 6
  • Other Canadian records 8
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Blanche Irene Speer

    Died 1997, aged 91; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record David John Speer

    Buried in 1971 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 38.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Bertie Riley Speer

    Died in service in 1916.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 22 records for Speer in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

France13 records

13 records of the Speer name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Alice Bernadette Germaine Speer

    Born 1922 in Hondeghem; died 2000 in Hazebrouck (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Julien Henri Cornil Speer

    Born 1910 in Hondeghem; died 1988 in Dunkerque (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Elsa Gerda Speer

    Born 1907 in Poland; died 1995 in Colmar (Haut-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Speer in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

United Kingdom1 record

1 record of the Speer name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. P. Speer

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Speer.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Speer is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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