Spencer

See also: spencer

English

Alternative forms

• Spenser

Etymology

An occupational surname from Middle English Spenser, Spencer, Spensier, from the common noun spenser (“spencer”), denoting someone who works in a spense (“spence”), or as a butler or steward.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛnsə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛnsɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɛnsə(ɹ)

• Audio (CA)

  (file)

Proper noun

Spencer (countable and uncountable, plural Spencers)

1. (countable) An English surname originating as an occupation.

   Synonym: Spenser

2. (countable) A unisex given name
   1. A male given name transferred from the surname, of general 19th century and later usage.
   2. A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.
3. A placename
   1. A suburb of Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia; probably named for British politician George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.
   2. A locality in the United States
      1. A town in Massachusetts; named for Massachusetts governor Spencer Phips.
      2. A city, the county seat of Clay County, Iowa.
      3. A city in Oklahoma.
      4. A town in North Carolina; named for railroad executive Samuel Spencer.
      5. A town and village in New York; named for New York statesman Ambrose Spencer.
      6. A city, the county seat of Roane County, West Virginia.
      7. A town, the county seat of Owen County, Indiana; named for Indiana militia officer Spier Spencer.
      8. A town and village in Wisconsin; named for the town in Massachusetts.
      9. A town, the county seat of Van Buren County, Tennessee; named for longhunter Thomas Sharp Spencer.
      10. A village in Ohio.
      11. A village in Nebraska; perhaps named for Alabama statesman George E. Spencer.
      12. A city in South Dakota; named for railroad official H. Spencer.
      13. A hamlet in Idaho.
      14. An unincorporated community in Missouri; named for a local merchant.
      15. An unincorporated community in Virginia; named for first settler James Spencer Jr.
      16. A number of townships in the United States, listed under Spencer Township.
   3. Ellipsis of Spencer County.
4. An English earldom.

Derived terms

• County of Spencer
• Spencer County
• Spencer Gulf
• Spencer Township
• Township of Spencer

 

Translations

surnames derived from the equivalent of “spencer”

• German: Speiser
• Greek: Οικονόμος (el) (Oikonómos)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: Spen‧cer

• Audio

  (file)

Proper noun

Spencer

1. a male given name from English