Weatherspoon
A surname most likely from the older form Wetherspoon, probably a nickname or occupational name linked to a “wether” and a spoon-maker or spoon-carrier in some local tradition.
The #6,310 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 57,080 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical evidence here points first to an older spelling, Wetherspoon, rather than giving a secure meaning for the modern form. One reasonable interpretation is that it contains Middle English wether, meaning a castrated ram, plus spoon, but the exact sense is not clear from the dictionary excerpt and may reflect a nickname, house sign, or some now-obscure occupational label. Because the source explicitly cross-references Weatherspoon to Wetherspoon, the modern spelling is best treated as a later phonetic or orthographic variant.
History
The surname appears to have been recorded in the United States by the 19th century, and the excerpted sources show it as a recognized family name by then. The form seems to have shifted from Wetherspoon to Weatherspoon, probably through pronunciation and spelling variation. It remains relatively uncommon but established in English-speaking records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The historical dictionary entry treats Weatherspoon simply as a cross-reference, which is a good reminder that many surnames survive in more than one spelling even when their original meaning is uncertain.
From the historical record
“WEATHERSPOON, v. Wetherspoon. WEATHERSTONE, v. Wetherstone. WEAVER (Eng.) i Cloth-Weaver [M.E. wever{e ; f. M.E. weveit, O.E. wefan, to weave] Cp. Webb(e, Webber, and Webster. 2 Dweller by the R. Weaver (Chesh.)”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)