Spira is a surname with a variety of origins. In Germany, the surname Spira originated as a corruption of

Speyer Speyer (, older spelling ''Speier'', French: ''Spire,'' historical English: ''Spires''; pfl, Schbaija) is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located on the left bank of the river Rhine, Speyer li ...

, the name of a town in the

Rhineland The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section. Term Historically, the Rhineland ...

. It is one of a number of Jewish surnames that originated this way, along with the better-known

Shapiro Shapiro, and its variations such as Shapira, Schapiro, Schapira, Sapir, Sapira, Spira, Sapiro, Spiro (name)/Spyro (in Greek), Szapiro/Szpiro (in Polish) and Chapiro (in French), is a Jewish Ashkenazi surname. Etymology The surname is derived ...

. Notable people with this name include:

Surname

Camilla Spira Camilla Spira (1 March 1906 – 25 August 1997) was a German film actress. She appeared in 68 films between 1924 and 1986. She was born in Hamburg, Germany, of Jewish ancestry on her father's side, and died in Berlin, Germany. Her father was ...

(1906–1997), German film actress * Chaim Elazar Spira (1868–1937), Polish Orthodox rabbi *

Elijah Spira Elijah Spira (1660–1712) (alternatively, "Shapira" or "Shapiro", Hebrew: אליהו שפירא) was son of Benjamin Wolf Spira. He was a brother-in-law of Rabbi Yaakov Reischer, Rabbi David Oppenheim and a student of Rabbi Avraham Gombiner. He w ...

(1660–1712), Czech rabbi *

Ella Spira Ella Spira MBE is a Grammy-nominated composer, visual artist and an award-winning theatre producer based in London, England. Spira co-founded the production company Sisters Grimm alongside ex Royal Ballet ballerina Pietra De Mello-Pittman in 20 ...

, English composer *

Fred Spira Fred Spira (1924–2007) was an inventor and innovator in photography as well as a collector of photographic equipment, images, books, and ephemera. He is credited as one of three individuals who opened up the U.S. market to quality Japanese photo ...

(1924–2007), American photography innovator *

Fritz Spira Fritz Spira (1 August 1881 – c. 1943) was an Austrian stage and film actor. He appeared frequently in films during the silent and early sound eras. Spira played the role of the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef in the 1926 film '' The Third Squad ...

(1881–1943), Austrian actor *

Harry Spira Harold R. "Harry" Spira, BVSc MRCVS MACVSc HDA was an Australian veterinarian, geneticist and dog fancier who was instrumental in the development of dog breeding programs which used artificial insemination and frozen semen. An author and respe ...

(died c. 2009), Australian veterinarian *

Henry Spira Henry Spira (19 June 1927 – 12 September 1998) was an American activist for socialism and animal rights, who is regarded by some as one of the most effective animal advocates of the 20th century.Singer, in Spira and Singer 2006, pp. 214–215. ...

(1927–1988), animal rights activist * Howard Spira (born 1959), American gambler and mobster * Joel Spira (born 1981), Swedish actor * Joel Spira (businessman) (1927–2015), American inventor and businessman * Jonathan Spira (born 1961), American researcher and industry analyst *

Julie Spira Julie Spira is an author and media personality on the subjects of online dating, social media, mobile dating, and netiquette. She wrote ''The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online''. Spira has writte ...

, American author and media personality * Lotte Spira (1883–1943), German actress *

Michael Spira Dr Michael Spira (born 24 April 1944) is a British medical doctor and GP with a special interest in weight management. Career Spira was educated at Stowe School, Buckingham. After training at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London London ...

(born 1944), British medical doctor *

Nathan Nata Spira Nathan Nata Spira ( he, ; 1585 – 20 July 1633) was a Polish rabbi and kabbalist, who served as Chief Rabbi of Kraków. A student of Meir Lublin, Spira played an important role in spreading Isaac Luria's teachings throughout Poland. ...

(1585–1633), Polish rabbi and kabbalist *

Phyllis Spira Phyllis Spira (18 October 1943 – 11 March 2008) was a South African ballet dancer who began her career with the Royal Ballet in England. Upon returning to South Africa, she spent twenty-eight years as ''prima ballerina'' of CAPAB Ballet, a ...

(1943–2008), South African ballet dancer * Rupert Spira (born 1960), English studio potter * Steffie Spira (1908–1995), Austrian-born German actress * Thomas Spira (1923–2005), Canadian historian *

Yisroel Spira Yisroel Spira (November 12, 1889 – October 30, 1989), the Bluzhover Rebbe, was a senior member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and a Holocaust survivor. His experiences in the Nazi concentration camps were the basis for the book ''Hasidic Tales of ...

(1889–1989), Polish-American rabbi

Given name

Spira Grujić Spira Grujić (; born 7 December 1971) is a Serbian former footballer who played as a defender. Club career After spending four seasons with Radnički Niš, Grujić moved abroad and joined Belgian club Molenbeek in 1995. He would also play f ...

(born 1971), Serbian football defender

References

{{given name, type=both Yiddish-language surnames Jewish surnames

Surname

Given name

See also

References