Surname Sprigg - Meaning and Origin

Sprigg: What does the surname Sprigg mean?

The last name Sprigg is of English origin and its earliest documented usage dates back to medieval England. The word "Sprigg" is derived from the Old Norse word "spriggr", which means "lively" or "sprightly". Therefore, the surname Sprigg could suggest that the initial bearers of the name were known for their liveliness or spirited nature. It's also noted that such surnames were often given to individuals based on their personal characteristics, profession, or place of residence. The surname Sprigg might also have been used to refer to someone who lived near a group of young plants, called sprigs in English. However, the surname's true original meaning and usage may vary. As with many surnames, tracing the exact origin can be difficult due to changes and deviations in spelling over the centuries.

Sprigg: Where does the name Sprigg come from?

The last name Sprigg is commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is also spread throughout the United States, particularly in states along the East Coast, such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. It is also found in some areas of Canada (particularly Ontario), Australia, and New Zealand. Overall, the surname is most commonly associated with British, Irish, and American roots.

The surname Sprigg is derived from "Spregg," which is an Old English nickname for a person who chatters or talks too much, hence the meaning of the surname today: a chatterer or talker. The name is thought to have first been introduced to Britain in the 11th century by the Scandinavian settlers. It continued to spread throughout Britain as Anglo-Saxon settlers spread across the English Channel during the time of the Norman conquest of England.

Today, Sprigg is among the top 5,000 surnames in Britain. Within the U.S., it ranks in the top 10,000 surnames. In Australia, there are 59 people with the surname Sprigg, while in Canada there are 40 people with the surname. The surname is also represented in other countries, including the Netherlands (31 people), South Africa (31 people), Germany (23 people), and France (11 people).

While the last name Sprigg is not as common as other British surnames, such as Smith, Brown, or Jones, it remains a prevalent surname in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Sprigg

Sprigg is an English variant of an old German surname, which is derived from the term springan, meaning to "sprinkle or leap". It is one of many surnames with the same root. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Sprigg include: Spragues, Spreng, Spring, Sprenger, Sprege, Spregell, Spreen, Spregger, and Spreygle, among others.

Sprigg is usually an anglicized version of the original German name Spreng. It first became popular among the Anglo-Saxons who adopted the name after they settled in Britain in the early Middle Ages. Sometimes, the spelling was transcribed as Sprigge, Springer, Sprigg, or Spriggle.

The surname Spriggs is derived from a specific location. The Spriggs family is said to have held a family seat in England during the 11th century. It is derived from the family living in or near the villages of Spreydon, Spreygoze, or Spreydon in the county of Devon.

The Sprisg surname is a patronymic, that is, a surname derived from a given name. It originated as a Middle English personal name, either translating as a "jumped one" or "one who is full of energy". The surname is derived from the given name Sprygg, a short form of the Old Norse Sprund-THOR.

The spelling of this surname may also occasionally be found as Sprewell or Spurrill. There have been a number of variations of the spelling of the name, mainly as result of spelling misinterpretation and emigration to the United States. Variations include Sprig, Sprigs, Spregg, Spreg, Spares, Sprad, Spred, Spongell, and Spreckel.

Famous people with the name Sprigg

• Scott Sprigg: a former American professional tennis player
• Phil Spriggs: an American professional basketball player
• Major General Robert Sprigg: a Brigadier General in the United States Army
• John Spriggs: a British television presenter
• Anne Sprigg: a British actor
• Harry Spriggs: an American singer and songwriter
• Donovan Spriggs: an American football player
• John Sprigg: an American politician
• Robin Sprigg: a British primatologist
• Tom Sprigg: a former Australian rules footballer
• Stephen Sprigg: a British broadcaster and media consultant
• Robert E. Sprigg: an American physicist
• Russell Sprigg: an Australian playwright and poet
• Kelly Sprigg: a professional Canadian football player
• Austin Sprigg: an American professional football player
• Katie Sprigg: a Canadian poet and author

Other surnames

SprigSpriggeSpriggs