Speke

Speke
This unusual and interesting name has two district possible origin. In most instances the modern surname is derived from an early medieval English nickname for someone thought to share some characteristic with the woodpecker. The nickname derive originally from the Old French 'espeche', in Middle English 'spek(e)', woodpecker. A number of modern English surnames share a similar derivation from bird's names, such as Lark, Nightingale, Swan and Heron. The second possible origin or the name 'Speak', and variant forms Speke, Speek, Speck, Spick and Speake, is from an Anglo-Saxon locational name, the place called 'speke' in Lancashire, which is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Spec'. The placename means 'brushwood', from the Old English pre 7th Century 'spaec', twigs, dry brushwood. The development of the surname includes Walter Espec 1130 (Yorkshire) and Ailfwin Speke 1180 (Buckinghamshire). The marriage of George Speak and Mary Pye was recorded on the 21st May, 1641 at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington, in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Spec, which was dated 1086, The Domesday Book, Bedfordshire, during the reign of King William 1, 'The Conqueror', 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Speke —   [spiːk], John Hanning, britischer Afrikaforscher, * Jordans (County Somerset) 3. oder 4. 5. 1827, ✝ bei Bath (Jagdunfall) 15. 9. 1864; schloss sich Sir R. F. Burton Ende 1856 zur Erforschung der ostafrikanischen Seen an (Aufbruch von Sansibar… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Speke — Speke, v. i. & t. To speak. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Speke — Speke, so v.w. Handspeiche …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Speke — (spr. ßpīk), John Hanning, engl. Reisender und Entdecker des Nilursprungs, geb. 4. Mai 1827 zu Jordans bei Ilchester in Somerset, gest. 15. Sept. 1864 infolge eines Jagdunfalles bei Bath, trat 1844 in die indische Armee und bereiste 1854 mit… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Speke — (spr. spihk), John Hanning, Afrikareisender, geb. 4. Mai 1827 zu Jordans bei Ilchester (Somersetshire), bereiste seit 1844 den Himalaja, 1854 mit R. F. Burton das Somalland, gelangte auf einer zweiten Reise mit Burton 1858 als erster Europäer an… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Speke — Speke, John Hanning …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Speke — (John Hanning) (1827 1864) explorateur anglais. Au cours d une expédition en Afrique centrale, il découvrit le lac qu il appela Victoria (1858) …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Speke — infobox UK place country= England latitude= 53.335666 longitude= 2.85507 official name= Speke population= metropolitan borough= Liverpool metropolitan county= Merseyside region= North West England constituency westminster= Liverpool Garston post… …   Wikipedia

  • Speke — John Hanning Speke John Hanning Speke John Hanning Speke (Bideford, 4 mai 1827 Corsham, 15 septembre 1864) était un explorateur anglais de l Afrique de l Est. Il a été officier de l armée britannique en Inde …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Speke — John Hanning Speke John Hanning Speke (* 4. Mai 1827 zu Jordans bei Ilchester in Somerset oder in Bath?; † 15. September 1864 bei Bath) war ein britischer Afrikaforscher. Leben John Hanning Sp …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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