Where did the baby name Spessard come from in 1941?

Politician Spessard Holland (1892-1971)
Spessard Holland

The name Spessard was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1941:

  • 1943: unlisted
  • 1942: unlisted
  • 1941: 5 baby boys named Spessard [debut]
  • 1940: unlisted
  • 1939: unlisted

Where did it come from?

Politician Spessard Holland, who served as the 28th Governor of Florida from 1941 to 1945.

Interestingly, Spessard — a Democrat — faced no Republican opponent in the general election. (He did defeat a fellow Democrat in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, though.)

Before serving as governor, he was in the Florida Senate (1932-1940). Afterward, he was in the U.S. Senate (1946-1971).

Spessard Holland’s first name was his mother’s maiden name. “Spessard” is a variant of the German surname Spessart, which came from Spechtshart, meaning “woodpecker forest.”

Sources:

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