Etymograph

English

Spenser

Spenser comes from Middle English Spenser ‘spencer’, and goes back to Latin dīspendere ‘weigh out’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīspendere‘weigh out’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīspēnsuspast participle of dīspendere
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500dīspēnsanoun use of feminine of dīspēnsus
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600despense
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spense‘spence’
  6. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500Spenser‘spencer’
  7. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīspendere‘weigh out’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīspēnsuspast participle of dīspendere
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500dīspēnsanoun use of feminine of dīspēnsus
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600despense
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spense‘spence’
  6. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500Spenser‘spencer’
  7. Englishtodaysame form

Linked words

through Latin dīspendere ‘weigh out’

spence, dispense, 1 more

Today it means

name A surname originating as an occupation, variant of Spencer, a rare spelling variant of Spencer.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin dīspendere / Spenser

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