Surname Specht - Meaning and Origin
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Specht: What does the surname Specht mean?
The last name Specht is a German-language surname meaning "titmouse." Additionally, the name carries regional specificities in different German-speaking countries, as Specht also means "woodpecker" in German-speaking regions of Poland and Czech Republic.
The historical origin of the name Specht is firmly rooted in Germanic culture. It is possible that the name was originally a reference to a bird of prey; more specifically, the distinctive rummaging and drumming behavior of the titmouse or woodpecker possibly inspired a person or a group of people to refer to as "the Specht."
Specht is also a common surname in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Additionally, it is a somewhat rare Austrian-Jewish surname, harkening to a time when Jews had limited rights and were often excluded from the mainstream population.
The name Specht has an interesting history, and it has a wide range of connotations ranging from the title of a bird to a Jewish surname. This name provides rich insight into the historical intricacies of the German language and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisSpecht: Where does the name Specht come from?
The last name Specht is believed to be German in origin, with the most prevalent origins around the western edge of the country around Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Bayern. Many of the oldest Specht records can be found in these three southwestern states, in towns like Bingen, Saarbrücken, and Geneva.
Today, the surname Specht is still fairly common throughout Germany. It is estimated that over 77,000 individuals in Germany currently carry the Specht surname. Within Germany, it is also mostly concentrated in the southwestern region, particularly in Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland. In addition to Germany, the Specht surname is also relatively common in Luxembourg, where it is estimated to have around 2,000 individuals.
In the United States, the Specht surname is present in much lower numbers. According to the US Census of 2010, there were only 1,241 individuals in the US using the last name Specht. The most concentrated Specht populations were in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
In conclusion, the Specht surname is most common today in the regions of southwestern Germany, especially in the states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland, as well as Luxembourg. In the United States, the Specht surname is much less common but still present in significant numbers in the northeastern region.
Variations of the surname Specht
The surname Specht is most common in Germany and Austria, and is derived from a German word meaning "woodpecker." It can be spelled various ways, including Specht, Speckt, Spehct, Spechtl, Spechtel, Spechtler, and Spechter.
In Germany, the surname is fairly widespread, with over 12,000 individuals bearing the Specht name in 2019. The highest concentrations of Specht are found in Bavaria, followed by Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the United States, the Specht surname appears to be a variation of the Spechtl surname. It is possible that some German Specht families immigrated to the US prior to the development of modern standardized spelling, which resulted in American Specht families having their spelling changed while in the US to reflect the Americanized spelling of the original German name.
The surname Specht has numerous variants in other European languages, including Dutch (Speckt), French (Schecht), and Polish (Spięt). In Poland, Specht is the 47th most common surname, with 10,700 individuals in 2019 and the majority of those with the Specht name residing in the Silesian Voivodeship.
Finally, the Specht surname is closely related to other names such as Spieth, Speight, and Spieker. These three surnames likely developed from the same original surname, and are further related to the Specht surname, as the Germanic root of these surnames is the same.
Famous people with the name Specht
- Richard Specht: Austrian composer and music publisher who was a close friend of Gustav Mahler and unofficial court composer to Emperor Franz-Josef I.
- Helmut H. Specht: German professor in mathematics and former president of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.
- Bernd Specht: German politician and former member of the German Green party.
- Iekeliene Stange: Dutch photographer who formerly went by her maiden name Specht.
- Alec Specht: American professional football player for the New York Jets.
- Harold Specht: German born American sculptor and professor at the University of Buffalo.
- Ralf Specht: German commercial director and screenwriter.
- Gerhard Specht: German theatre director, acting coach, actor, and author.
- Everest Specht: American singer-songwriter and former military officer.
- Lara Specht: German author and former magazine editor.