This most unusual name is of medieval German origin, and is a late Anglicized form of the surname Spankuch(e) or Spenkuch(e). This is an occupational name, originating in Bavaria, for a kitchen-worker, specifically one who chopped and sliced ingredients; some modern interpretations of the surname use terms such as "chip-maker". The ultimate derivation of the name is from the German "span", chip, piece, and "kuch(e)", kitchen. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. The Anglicized variants of this surname include Spencock, Spencook, Spennock and Spancock, while examples from German Church Registers include: the marriage of Hans Spankuch and Katharine Stadtmann, on November 25th 1608, in Schwabisch Hall, Jagstkreis, Wuertt; the marriage of Johanne Spaenkuch and Georg Walther in the same place, on May 7th 1689; and the christening of Maria Gertrudis Spenkuck at Gabsheim, Rheinhessen, on March 22nd 1773. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ewald Spenkuch, which was dated 1506, in the "Diocesan Archives of Freiburg", during the reign of Maximilian 1, Holy Roman Emperor, 1493 - 1519. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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