Spivey
What is the origin of the last name Spivey?
Meaning and origin
The last name Spivey is of English origin and has its roots in medieval times. It is derived from the Old French word "espivet," meaning "a thicket or small wood." The name likely originated as a topographic or locational surname, denoting someone who lived near a spivey or wooded area. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation evolved to the modern-day form Spivey.
The longer story
The last name Spivey has several interesting facts associated with it.
Firstly, the Spivey surname is of English origin. It is believed to be a variant of the surname Spicer, which itself originated as an occupational name for a seller of spices or a grocer.
This suggests that the name has a long history and has been passed down through generations.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,702
Spivey was the 1,702nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,161 people, about 6.9 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Spivey
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Spivey is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.