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'''Spira''' is a surname with a variety of origins. In Germany, the surname Spira originated as a corruption of [[Speyer]], the name of a town in the [[Rhineland]].
'''Spira''' is one of many variants of an ancient Indo-European name, including [[Spyra]], [[Spera]], [[Spero]], [[Spiridon (disambiguation)|Spiridon]], [[Caspari]], [[Kasperski (disambiguation)|Kasperski]], [[Kasparov]], etc. It belongs to the western, e.g. European branch of the ancient [[Ikshvaku dynasty|Iakšaku dynasty]] ([[House of Suren]]), descendants of mythical [[Kashyapa|Kaśyapa]], whose Persian form is [[Kasper (disambiguation)|Kasper]] of which also the toponyms of [[Kashmir|Kasperia]] and [[Caspian Sea]] were derived. The name Spira itself is also tied to many toponyms, e.g. [[Speyer|Spira]] (in [[Speyergau|Spyrgowa]]), [[Esperstedt, Thuringia|Spira]] (destroyed, in [[Dervan|White Serbia]]), [[Speri]] (in [[Caspians|Sasperia]]),<ref>[https://ia600102.us.archive.org/8/items/BibliographicalDictionaryOfPuranicPersonagesAkshayaKumariDevi/Bibliographical Dictionary of Puranic Personages%20 Akshaya Kumari Devi.pdf]</ref> [[Spera, Khost Province|Spera]] (in [[Aria (region)|Aria]]) or [[Sardis|Sparda (Sardis)]]. Among the [[Slavs]] the name, profoundly in its variation Sperun is tied to the deity [[Perun]] ([[Parjanya]], [[Indra]], [[Tarḫunz]], [[Ishkur|Iškur]] or [[Zeus Kasios]] of [[Jebel Aqra|Mount Casius]]). The many Apeninne and Slavic name variants of Spira (Spyra, Spera, Spero…) along [[Tarchon]] and [[Perusia]] (centre of [[Perun]] cult, converted to [[Vulcan (deity)|Vulcan]] in Roman times) relate to its ancient [[Luwian]] and [[Villanovan culture]] ties.


The surname found particular historical significance among the [[Ashkenazi Jews|Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe]], with many notable Rabbis claiming this name. The [[History of the Jews in Speyer|Spira family]] directly descends from 11th century rabbi [[Rashi]], and therefore is in the [[Davidic line]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE "RASHI" LEGACY (Kalonymos, Treves, Luria and Spira Families) genealogy project |url=https://www.geni.com/projects/THE-RASHI-LEGACY-Kalonymos-Treves-Luria-and-Spira-Families/56 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=geni_family_tree |language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, the [[Baal Shem Tov]], the founder of [[Hasidic Judaism|Hassidic Judaism]], is said to have claimed that the Spira family is one of three pure lineages of among the [[Jewish nation]] (being [[Israelites]]), the others being the [[Horowitz family|Horowitz]] family (who are [[Levite|Levites]]) and the [[Rappaport family|Rappaport]] family (who are [[Kohen|Kohanim]]).<ref>Dynner, Glenn (1997). "[https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ37203.pdf Yikhus and the Early Hasidic Movement]" (PDF). Department of Jewish Studies at McGiII University.</ref>
During the [[Middle Ages]] many Jews of the '''[[Shapiro]]''' clan, mainly those living around then Germanic-controlled [[History of Speyer|Spira (Speyer)]] of [[Speyergau|Spyrgowa (Speyergau]], [[Alamannia]]), one of ancient capitals of the [[Aryan]] [[Pernus coat of arms|Spyra dynasty]], adopted it as their European surname. Since it's virtually impossible to distinguish the native ancient Indo-European people, who inherited this name from the Jewish people who adopted this name during recent centuries. It's possible the [[Ashkenazi Jews]] adopted the name remainding them of [[Sardis|Sparda (Sardis)]], one of capitals of their former [[Lake İznik|Askanian]] homeland. Notable people with this name include:

Spira is one of a number of Jewish surnames that originated in Speyer, including Spiro, Shapira, and [[Shapiro]].

Notable people with this name include:


==Surname==
==Surname==
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* [[Ella Spira]], English composer
* [[Ella Spira]], English composer
* [[Fred Spira]] (1924–2007), American photography innovator
* [[Fred Spira]] (1924–2007), American photography innovator
* [[Fritz Spira]] (1881–1943), Austrian stage and film actor
* [[Fritz Spira]] (1881–1943), Austrian actor
* [[Harry Spira]] (died c. 2009), Australian veterinarian
* [[Harry Spira]] (died c. 2009), Australian veterinarian
* [[Henry Spira]] (1927–1988), animal rights activist
* [[Henry Spira]] (1927–1988), animal rights activist
* [[Joel Spira]] (born 1981), Swedish film, television and theatre actor
* [[Howard Spira]] (born 1959), American gambler and mobster
* [[Joel Spira (businessman)]] (1927–2015), American inventor, entrepreneur, and business magnate
* [[Joel Spira]] (born 1981), Swedish actor
* [[Joel Spira (businessman)]] (1927–2015), American inventor and businessman
* [[Jonathan Spira]] (born 1961), American researcher and industry analyst
* [[Jonathan Spira]] (born 1961), American researcher and industry analyst
* [[Julie Spira]], American author and media personality
* [[Julie Spira]], American author and media personality
* [[Lotte Spira]] (1883–1943), German stage and film actress
* [[Lotte Spira]] (1883–1943), German actress
* [[Michael Spira]] (born 1944), British medical doctor
* [[Michael Spira]] (born 1944), British medical doctor
* [[Nathan Nata Spira]] (1585–1633), Polish rabbi and kabbalist
* [[Nathan Nata Spira]] (1585–1633), Polish rabbi and kabbalist
* [[Phyllis Spira]] (1943–2008), South African ballet dancer
* [[Phyllis Spira]] (1943–2008), South African ballet dancer
* [[Rupert Spira]] (born 1960), English studio potter
* [[Rupert Spira]] (born 1960), English studio potter
* [[Steffie Spira]] (1908–1995), Austrian-born German stage, film and television actress
* [[Steffie Spira]] (1908–1995), Austrian-born German actress
* [[Thomas Spira]] (1923–2005), Canadian professor of history
* [[Thomas Spira]] (1923–2005), Canadian historian
* [[Yisroel Spira]] (1889–1989), Polish-American rabbi
* [[Yisroel Spira]] (1889–1989), Polish-American rabbi


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*[[Spyra]]
*[[Spyra]]
*[[Spera (disambiguation)|Spera]]
*[[Spera (disambiguation)|Spera]]
*[[Spiro (name)]]
*[[Spiro (name)]]
*[[Pernus coat of arms]]
*[[Peruzzi]]
*[[Golden Hat of Schifferstadt]]
*[[Biblical Magi]]
*[[Saveh|Sava]]
*[[Saint Spyridon]]
*[[Shrine of the Three Kings|Shrine of the Three Magi]]
*[[Beyoğlu|Pera (Byzantion)]]
*[[Pero (Milan Metro)]]
*[[Spira (car)]]
*[[Spira (car)]]
*[[Spira Culture Center]]
*[[Spira Culture Center]]
*[[Shapiro]], main article on Ashkenazi surname having Spira as a variant
*[[Shapiro]]
*[[Jewish surname]]
*[[Jewish surname]]
*[[Kraków Ghetto Jewish Police]]


==References==
==References==
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{{given name|type=both}}
{{given name|type=both}}

[[Category:Yiddish-language surnames]]
[[Category:Yiddish-language surnames]]
[[Category:Jewish surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Jewish origin]]

Revision as of 20:53, 27 September 2024

Spira is a surname with a variety of origins. In Germany, the surname Spira originated as a corruption of Speyer, the name of a town in the Rhineland.

The surname found particular historical significance among the Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe, with many notable Rabbis claiming this name. The Spira family directly descends from 11th century rabbi Rashi, and therefore is in the Davidic line.[1] Additionally, the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hassidic Judaism, is said to have claimed that the Spira family is one of three pure lineages of among the Jewish nation (being Israelites), the others being the Horowitz family (who are Levites) and the Rappaport family (who are Kohanim).[2]

Spira is one of a number of Jewish surnames that originated in Speyer, including Spiro, Shapira, and Shapiro.

Notable people with this name include:

Surname

Given name

See also

References

  1. ^ "THE "RASHI" LEGACY (Kalonymos, Treves, Luria and Spira Families) genealogy project". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  2. ^ Dynner, Glenn (1997). "Yikhus and the Early Hasidic Movement" (PDF). Department of Jewish Studies at McGiII University.
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