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Spiro is a surname with a variety of origins, as well as a given name among Greek-speaking populations, Albanians, and the Christians of Lebanon.


Origins

As a Greek name, Spiro may also be spelled Spyro. It comes from the ''Greek'' Spiros/Spyros/Speros ( gr, Σπύρος), with a
nominative In grammar, the nominative case (abbreviated ), subjective case, straight case or upright case is one of the grammatical cases of a noun or other part of speech, which generally marks the subject of a verb or (in Latin and formal variants of Engl ...
final "s" that is usually dropped when Anglicised. It is a male
given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
fairly common in Greek-speaking population (
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
especially in
Corfu Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...
whose patron saint is
Saint Spyridon Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous also sometimes written Saint Spiridon (Greek: ; c. 270 – 348) is a saint honoured in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions. Life Spyridon was born in Askeia, in Cyprus. He worked as a shepher ...
, in
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
,
Greek diaspora The Greek diaspora, also known as Omogenia ( el, Ομογένεια, Omogéneia), are the communities of Greeks living outside of Greece and Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus). Such places historically include Albania, North Macedonia, parts of ...
) as well as among the
Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
of
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
where it is a common first and last name. It is a shortened form of the archaic-sounding Spyridon (Σπυρίδων), which means in ancient Greek "basket used to carry seeds" (Σπυρί, grain, seed). The Greek diminutives for Spirydon are Pipis (Πίπης ) and Pipeto (Πιπέτο).
Špiro Špiro is a masculine given name found in Montenegro and Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") ...
is also a masculine given name in Croatia and Montenegro. In Germany, the surname Spiro 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 Rhinelands ...
. 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 derive ...
.


Surname

People with the
surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
Spiro include: *
Alyson Spiro Alyson Spiro is a British actress, best known for portraying Sarah Sugden on the British television soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 1994–2000. She took over the role from Madeleine Howard, after she decided to leave the ITV show after six years ...
, British actress * Betty Miller (née Spiro) (1910–1965), Irish author *
Bjørn Spiro Bjørn Spiro (20 March 1909 – 1 June 1999) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1914 and 1972. Filmography * '' Det hemmelighedsfulde X'' (1914) * '' 5 raske piger'' (1933) * ''Der var engang en Vicevært'' (1937) * ...
(1909–1999), Danish film actor *
Ellen Spiro Ellen Spiro is an American documentary filmmaker. She was a producer and director of a television documentary '' Are the kids alright?'', which won an Emmy Award in 2005. She is a professor emerita of the University of Texas at Austin, where ...
(b. 1964), American documentary filmmaker *
Eugene Spiro Eugene Spiro, born Eugen Spiro (April 18, 1874 in Breslau, Silesia – September 26, 1972 in New York City) was a German and American painter. He was born to a Jewish family in Breslau. In 1904 Spiro was briefly married to the famous actre ...
(1874–1972), German and American painter *
György Spiró György (George) Spiró (born 4 April 1946 in Budapest) is a dramatist, novelist and essayist who has emerged as one of post-war Hungary's most prominent literary figures. He is a member of the Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts. Life ...
(b. 1946), Hungarian dramatist, novelist and essayist *
Harold Spiro Harold Jacob Spiro (25 June 1925 – 11 December 1996) was an English songwriter. He is best known for his co-writing with Valerie Avon, particularly the song " Long Live Love" (1974) performed by Olivia Newton-John, which was the UK's entry i ...
(1925–1996), English songwriter * Herbert Spiro (1924–2010), German-born American political scientist *
Jordana Spiro Jordana Spiro (born April 12, 1977) is an American actress, director, and writer. As an actress, she has starred in numerous films and television series including Netflix's '' Ozark'' and TBS comedy television program ''My Boys''. Her debut f ...
(b. 1977), American actress * Lev L. Spiro, American film and television director *
Karl Spiro Karl Spiro (24 June 1867 – 21 March 1932) was a German biologist, and physical chemist. Spiro was born in Berlin. In 1889 he received his PhD from the University of Würzburg as a student of Emil Fischer, then in 1893 obtained his medical do ...
(1867–1932), German biologist and physical chemist * Mark Spiro, American songwriter, musician, and record producer *
Melford Spiro Melford Elliot Spiro (April 26, 1920 – October 18, 2014) was an American cultural anthropologist specializing in religion and psychological anthropology. He is known for his critiques of the pillars of contemporary anthropological theory ...
(1920–2014), American cultural anthropologist *
Michel Spiro Michel Spiro (born 24 February 1946 in Roanne, Loire, France) is a French physicist. Biography Michel Spiro attended the high school Jean-Puy de Roanne. Spiro obtained the baccalauréat in 1963, with a specialisation in elementary mathematic ...
, French physicist *
Peter Spiro Peter John Spiro (born 1961) is an American legal scholar whose specialities include international law and U.S. constitutional law. He is a leading expert on dual citizenship. Formerly the Rusk Professor of International Law at the University of ...
, American legal scholar *
Samantha Spiro Samantha Spiro (born 20 June 1968) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for portraying Barbara Windsor in the stage play '' Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick'' and the television films ''Cor, Blimey!'' and ''Babs'', DI Vivien F ...
(b. 1968), British actor *
Samuel Spiro Miguel Samuel Spiro was a naval commander of the Argentine Navy born in Hydra Island, Greece. He emigrated to Buenos Aires with his two brothers in 1810, and was an early supporter of the May Revolution. He had been a Navy Captain in Greece, a ...
(d. 1814), Greek-born Argentine naval captain **
ARA Spiro (P-43) ARA ''Spiro'' (P-43) is the third ship of the MEKO 140A16 of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the second ship to bear the name of the Greek-born Captain Samuel Spiro, who fought during the Argentine War of Independenc ...
, the corvette of the Argentine Navy named after Samuel Spiro *
Stephen Spiro Stephen Spiro (1939–2007) was a political activist known for his opposition against the Vietnam War and his advocacy of an ideology that opposes abortion, capital punishment, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Opposing the Vietnam war based on th ...
(1939–2007), American political activist


Given name


Spiro

People with the
given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
Spiro include: *
Spiro Agnew Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the 39th vice president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1973. He is the second vice president to resign the position, the other being John ...
(1918–1996), thirty-ninth vice president of the United States *
Spyro the Dragon ''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the '' Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple ...
*
Spiro Moisiu Spiro Theodori Moisiu, born as Spiro Koxhobashi (5 May 1900 – 12 April 1981), was the Major general of the Albanian National Liberation Army during World War II. He was the father of the former President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu. Early life ...
(1900-1981), Albanian general *
Spyros Gogolos Spyros Gogolos (Greek: Σπύρος Γόγολος, born 11 August 1978) is a retired Greek footballer, who played as a defender. Club career He was born on 11 August 1978 in Kerkyra. His family origins are from Paramythia in Thesprotia, Epi ...
, Greek footballer * Spyros Kastanas, Cypriot footballer *
Spyros Kyprianou Spyros Achilleos Kyprianou ( el, Σπύρος Κυπριανού; 28 October 1932 – 12 March 2002) was one of the most prominent politicians and barristers of modern Cyprus. He served as the second president of Cyprus from 1977 to 1988. ...
(1932–2002), former President of Cyprus *
Spiros Latsis Spiros J. Latsis ( el, Σπύρος Λάτσης; born 1946) is a Greek billionaire, and business magnate. He is the son of the late tycoon Yiannis Latsis, who died in 2003. In 2018, Spiros Latsis ranked #729 on the ''Forbes'' World's Billionaire ...
, Greek businessman *
Spiros Livathinos Spyros Livathinos ( el, Σπύρος Λιβαθηνός; born 8 January 1955) is a former football player who played as a midfielder, coach and current scout of Panathinaikos. Career Born in Patras, Livathinos started his football career in th ...
(b. 1955), Greek football player, coach, and current head scout *
Spyridon Louis Spyridon Louis ( el, Σπυρίδων Λούης , sometimes transliterated ''Spiridon Loues''; 12 January 1873 – 26 March 1940), commonly known as Spyros Louis (Σπύρος Λούης), was a Greek water carrier who won the first modern-day ...
(1873–1940), Greek gold medallist of the first modern Olympic Marathon ** Spiros Louis Stadium, the Athens Olympic Stadium named after Louis


Spiros/Spyros

*
Spiros Marangos Spyros Marangos ( el, Σπύρος Μαραγκός, born 20 February 1967) is a former Greek football player. He played for Panionios, Panathinaikos, PAOK, Omonia and APOEL at the club level. He also made 26 appearances for the Greece natio ...
, Greek footballer *
Spiros Markezinis Spyridon "Spyros" Markezinis (or Markesinis; ; 22 April 1909 – 4 January 2000) was a Greek politician, longtime member of the Hellenic Parliament, and briefly the Prime Minister of Greece during the aborted attempt at metapolitefsi (democrati ...
(1909–2000), Greek politician *
Spyros Moustakas Spyros Moustakas ( el, Σπύρος Μουστάκας, 1914 - 2002) was a writer of folklore books on Lemnos. Biography Moustakas was born in Livadochori on the island of Lemnos in 1914. He was the only child of his parents, Panagiotis and Fani ...
, Greek writer *
Spyros Paliouras Spyro Paliouras, or Spiro Paliouras ( el, Σπύρος Παλιούρας, 1875–1957) was a Greek writer and painter. Biography Born in Evrytania in 1875 Paliouras moved to Athens at a young age. He started earning his living in Athens by wo ...
, Greek writer *
Spyros B. Pavlides Spyros B. Pavlides (Σπύρος Β. Παυλίδης) is a Greece, Greek geologist and professor of geology and physical geography and vice president of the school of geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.Spyros Samaras Spyridon-Filiskos Samaras (also Spyros, Spiro Samára; el, Σπυρίδων Σαμάρας) () was a Greek composer particularly admired for his operas who was part of the generation of composers that heralded the works of Giacomo Puccini. His c ...
(1861–1917), Greek composer of the Olympic Anthem * Paul Spyros Sarbanes (b. 1933), former US Senator representing Maryland *
Spyros Skouras Spyros Panagiotis Skouras (; gr, Σπύρος Σκούρας; March 28, 1893 – August 16, 1971) was a Greek-American motion picture pioneer and film executive who was the president of 20th Century-Fox from 1942 to 1962. He resigned June 27, 19 ...
(1893–1971), Greek-American chairman of Twentieth Century Fox from 1942 to 1962 *
Spyros Spyromilios Spyros Spyromilios ( el, Σπύρος Σπυρομήλιος; 1864–1930) was a Greek Gendarmerie officer and guerilla fighter who took part in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, the Greek Struggle for Macedonia, and the Balkan Wars. In 1914 he proc ...
, Greek Gendarmerie officer *
Spyros Vallas Spyros Vallas ( gr, Σπύρος Βάλλας; born 26 August 1981) is a Greek former professional footballer. Vallas, a defender, started his career at Skoda Xanthi, and transferred to Olympiacos in July 2003. He played for Larissa on loan ...
(b. 1981), Greek football player * Spiros Velentzas, American Greek Mob Boss *
Spiros Vondas Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos ( Greek: Σπύρος Βονδόπουλος) is a fictional character on the HBO drama '' The Wire'' played by actor Paul Ben-Victor and the secondary antagonist in season 2. Biography Vondas is The Greek's secon ...
, fictional character on the HBO drama ''The Wire'' *
Spyros Vrettos Spyros Vrettos (Greek: Σπύρος Βρεττός, born 1960 in the island of Lefkada) is a Greek poet. He later studied at law school in the University of Athens. Works References *''The first version of the article is translated and is ba ...
, Greek poet *
Spiros Zodhiates Spiros Zodhiates ( el, Σπύρος Ζωδιάτης; March 13, 1922 – October 10, 200ref name="CTFP"> was a Greek-American Bible scholar, author, and ministry innovator. He was best known for his work in developing AMG (Advancing the Ministri ...
, Greek-American author


Middle name


Spiro

* George Spiro Dibie (1932-2022), American cinematographer


See also

* Spirou * Spira, a Jewish name sometimes also spelled "Spiro" * Schapiro,
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 derive ...
* Schapira,
Shapira Shapira is a surname, and may refer to: * Amitzur Shapira, Israeli runner and track and field coach killed in the 1972 Munich massacre * Amos Shapira, Israeli former President of El Al Airlines, Cellcom, and the University of Haifa * Anita Shapir ...
*
Spire A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires are ...


References

{{Reflist Greek masculine given names Jewish surnames