Spivey
A surname most likely from a medieval nickname or a place-name, with roots in older English or French forms that may have described someone from a small, thorny, or speckled place.
The #1,702 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,590 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Spivey is usually treated as an English surname, but its exact origin is not securely settled. It may go back to a medieval nickname or to a now-lost local place-name built from older words for a thorn, spear, or spiky growth, or from a word meaning speckled or spotted. Because the early forms are not firmly documented in a single line of evidence, the surname is best regarded as probably locational or descriptive, but ultimately uncertain.
History
The surname is found in England and later became established in the United States, especially in the South. Like many surnames of this type, it may have developed from a local byname attached to a person known by a physical trait or by association with a place. Modern bearers are concentrated in English-speaking countries, with the U.S. having the largest number today.
Origin
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Fun fact
Spivey is common enough in the U.S. to rank in the top 2,000 surnames in the 2010 census, even though its original meaning remains uncertain.