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Speed Family History

Speed Name Meaning

English: nickname from Middle English sped ‘success prosperity wealth smooth progress’ (hence the modern meaning ‘swiftness’); also ‘speed quickness’ (Old English sped) used either for a fortunate wealthy or successful person or for a swift runner. Irish (Mayo): when not the English name adopted for Gaelic Ó Fuada from fuad ‘haste’ (see Foody ). Americanized form (translation into English) of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Schnell .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Speer, Seed, Steer, Sneed, Peed, Spear, See, Creed, Speck, Gleed

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Where is the Speed family from?

You can see how Speed families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Speed family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Speed families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 31 Speed families living in British Columbia. This was about 33% of all the recorded Speed's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Speed families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Speed surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Speed

What Speed family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 71,000 census records available for the last name Speed. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Speed census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Speed
Passenger Lists
There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Speed. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Speed immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Speed. For the veterans among your Speed ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Speed military records

Census Records

There are 71,000 census records available for the last name Speed. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Speed census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Speed

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Speed. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Speed immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Speed. For the veterans among your Speed ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Speed military records

You've only scratched the surface of Speed family history

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What is the average Speed lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Speed life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Speed in 1950 was 44, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Speed

Browse profiles of historical people with the Speed last name

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