Speer is a surname of various origins: •Middle High German and Middle Dutch (): ''sper'', meaning "

spear A spear is a polearm consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with Fire hardening, fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable materia ...

" •Ashkenazi Jewish (): a spelling variation of ''Speyer'', a name indicative of origin from the German city of

Speyer Speyer (, older spelling ; ; ), historically known in English as Spires, is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in the western part of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the r ...

(more at

Shapiro Shapiro, and its variations such as Shapira, Schapiro, Schapira, Sapir, Sapira, Spira, Spiro, Sapiro, Szapiro/Szpiro in Polish and Chapiro in French (more at "See also"), is a Jewish Ashkenazi surname. Etymology The surname is derived from ...

). :• Scottish and northern Irish : a spelling variation of ''Speir'', from the Old French ''espier'' meaning "to watch" Notable people with the surname include: *

Albert Friedrich Speer Albert Friedrich Speer (6 May 1863 – 31 March 1947) was a German architect. He was the father of the architect and Nazi Germany minister Albert Speer and the grandfather of another architect of the same name. After studies in Berlin and ...

, (1863–1947), German architect, father of Albert Speer *

Albert Speer Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer (; ; 19 March 1905 – 1 September 1981) was a German architect who served as Reich Ministry of Armaments and War Production, Minister of Armaments and War Production in Nazi Germany during most of W ...

, (1905–1981), German architect, Minister of Armaments and War Production of Nazi Germany from 1942 to 1945 * Albert Speer (born 1934), (1934–2017), a German architect and city planner, son of Albert Speer * Bill Speer, a retired professional ice hockey player *

Christian P. Speer Christian P. Speer (born 28 August 1952, in Kassel) is a German pediatrician and Professor of Pediatrics specialized in neonatology at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. Speer is known for his scientific and educational contributions i ...

, (born 1952) German pediatrician and Professor of Pediatrics * Christopher Speer, Sergeant First Class (SFC), a U.S. special forces soldier killed in Afghanistan *

Del Speer Delfonico Arnese Speer (born February 1, 1970) is an American former professional football defensive back who played for the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at University of F ...

(born 1970), American football player *

Dieter Speer Dieter Speer (born 24 February 1942) is a former East German biathlete. He was the first German to hold the title when he became world champion in biathlon in 1971, beating the outstanding Alexander Tikhonov over 20 kilometres. Tikhonov could ...

, a former German biathlete *Dick Speer, founder of CCI, brother of Vernon Speer *

Emory Speer Emory Speer (September 3, 1848 – December 13, 1918) was a United States representative from Georgia and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. Youth, lineage, and family life Sp ...

, a U.S. politician, soldier, and lawyer who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1878 to 1882 *

Floyd Speer Vernie Floyd Speer (January 27, 1913 – March 22, 1969) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He was born on January 27, 1913, in Booneville, Arkansas. He attended Booneville High School, where he starred in baseball. His twin brother ...

, also known as Floyd Vernie Speer, a U.S. professional baseball pitcher *

Daniel Speer Georg Daniel Speer (2 July 1636 – 5 October 1707) was a German composer and writer of the Baroque. Speer was born in Breslau (today Wrocław, Poland) and died in Göppingen Göppingen (; or ) is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stut ...

, also known as Georg Daniel Speer, a German composer, and writer of the Baroque * Hilde Schramm (born 1936), née Speer, a German politician, and daughter of Albert Speer *

Hugo Speer Hugo Alexander Speer (born 17 March 1968) is an English actor and director. He is best known for playing Guy in ''The Full Monty'' (1997), Inspector Valentine in ''Father Brown (2013 TV series), Father Brown'' (2013–2014), Captain Treville in ...

, an English actor, born in 1968 *

Jack Speer John Bristol Speer (August 9, 1920 – June 28, 2008) was an attorney, practicing law for over 60 years; a judge; and a Washington House of Representatives member. Also a long-time science fiction fan and important early historian of science fic ...

, also known as John “Jack” Bristol Speer, a judge, Washington state representative, and a science fiction fan * James Gamble Speer, state legislator in Florida *

Jillian Speer Jillian Speer is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her current album, ''Deeper This Way'', was released in 2016. Her music genre is described as Adult Alternative, Punk Folk, Soulful Rock, and World Music. Early life Born and raised ...

, a U.S. singer-songwriter and musician *

Margret Nissen Margret Nissen (born Margarete Speer; 19 June 1938) is a German photographer. She is a daughter of the German architect and high-ranked Nazi Party official Albert Speer (1905–1981). Margret was named after her mother. She lived in Obersalzber ...

(born 1938), née Speer, a German photographer, and daughter of Albert Speer *

Mark Speer Mark Speer (born November 9, 1979) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and one of the founding members of the musical trio Khruangbin. Biography Mark Speer was born November 9, 1979, in Houston, Texas. The first m ...

, American musician and guitarist * Mary Margaret Speer, American mathematician *

Noah Wyle Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (; born June 4, 1971) is an American actor, writer, producer and director. He rose to fame as John Carter in the NBC medical drama '' ER'' (1994–2009), receiving five Emmy Award nominations, three Golden Globe Award ...

, also known as Noah Strausser Speer Wyle, a U.S. TV, and film actor *

Peter Moore Speer Peter Moore Speer (December 29, 1862 – August 3, 1933) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Peter M. Speer was born near Oil City, Pennsylvania. He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsyl ...

, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania *

Robert Elliott Speer Robert Elliott Speer (10 September 1867 – 23 November 1947) was an American Presbyterian religious leader and an authority on missions. Biography He was born at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on 10 September 1867. He graduated from Phillips Academy ...

, a U.S. religious leader (1867–1947) and authority on missions *

Robert M. Speer Robert M. Speer (born February 10, 1956) is a retired military officer and American businessman who manages a consulting practice. In addition, he serves on several boards, including as chairman of the Code of Support Foundation, a military serv ...

, acting United States Secretary of the Army (2017- ) *

Robert Milton Speer Robert Milton Speer (September 8, 1838 – January 17, 1890) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Robert M. Speer was born in Cassville, Pennsylvania. He attended Cassville Academy, taught school, s ...

, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania * Robert W. Speer, also known as Robert Walter Speer, mayor of

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

from 1904–1912 *

Roy Speer Roy Merrill Speer Jr. (June 23, 1932 – August 21, 2012) was an American attorney, and entrepreneur. He was also the former CEO, co-founder and chairman of the Home Shopping Network. Early life and education Speer was born in Key West, Florida a ...

, the financial backing behind the Home Shopping Network *

Scott Speer Scott Speer (born June 5, 1982) is an American director and novelist. Life and career Speer was born in San Diego, California. At age 23, he was signed with ''HSI Productions'', and in 2006 Speer received the MVPA Award for ''Directorial Debut ...

, an American music video director *The

Speer Family The Speer Family was a Southern gospel family musical group. It was founded in 1921 by George Thomas ("Dad") Speer (1891–1966), his wife, Lena Darling ("Mom") Speer (née Brock; 1899–1967), and his sister and brother-in-law, Pearl Claborn ( ...

, a Southern Gospel family group founded in 1921 *Stewie Speer, an Australian drummer best known as a member of the 1960s–70s group Max Merritt & The Meteors * Susan Speer, a British psychologist *

Thomas J. Speer Thomas Jefferson Speer (August 31, 1837 – August 18, 1872) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Born in Monroe County, Georgia, Speer attended the common schools. He engaged ...

, also known as Thomas Jefferson Speer, a U.S. Representative from Georgia *Thomas M Speers, First Chief of Police of Kansas City, Missouri 1874–1895 *

Tom Speer Thomas Speer (born August 20, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2005 until 2013, he received national exposure on '' The Ultimate Fighter 6: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra'', fighting as a member of Te ...

, a U.S. professional mixed martial artist *Vernon Speer, founder of Speer Bullets, brother of Dick Speer *

W. G. Speer Whitcomb Glenn "Bunt" Speer (November 6, 1884 – April 24, 1955) was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas from 1915 to 1918 and Nebraska State Normal Schoo ...

, the second head football coach for the Fort Hays State University Tigers in Hays, Kansas * William Speer, a pioneer American Presbyterian missionary and pastor to the Chinese