Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Slovenian (Špan) : from špan, a feudal status name for a serf chosen by an overlord to oversee other serfs and villeins working on the overlord’s estate. This was also a status name for a village headman. The word in both senses is derived from Slovenian župan (see Zupan).
  • German : occupational name for a carpenter, a variant of Spahn.
  • German : nickname for a quarrelsome person, a variant of Spann.
  • Jewish (Ashkenazic) : nickname or ornamental name from Span ‘chip’.

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe