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

Etymology

The surname is derived from the medieval name of Speyer, Germany,[1][2] compare Spire, the French name for that city. Other name variants attributed to Speyer include Sapiro, Spira, Spire, Spiro, Spero, Chapiro, Sprai, Szpir, Szpiro, Sapir and Spear.[3] The Jewish community of Speyer was one of three leading cities central to the development of Ashkenazi culture, referred to as the ShUM-cities, an acronym based on the names of the cities. The family name Speyer (based on the modern German name for the same city) has also become a well-known surname that was spread by Jews from Frankfurt to England, the United States and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Notable people surnamed Shapiro

Other uses

See also

References

  1. ^ Elon, Gilad (2014-04-22). "What Does Your Jewish Name Mean?". Haaretz. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Nate (September 30, 2016). "Shapiro: Blood, death, and beautiful sapphires". Jewish Press. pp. 16–17. Archived from the original on 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  3. ^ (Kaganoff, 1977) Source: Saul Zeichner, 27 November 2000, Revised 10 April 2009 http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kolomea/nameorigin.htm