Spencer
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈspɛnsə/
ipa: /ˈspɛnsɚ/
rhymes: -ɛnsə(ɹ)
Forms: form: Spencers
form: Spenser
Etymology: An occupational surname from Middle English Spenser, Spencer, Spensier, from the common noun spenser (“spencer”), denoting someone who works in a spense (“spence”), or as a butler or steward.
Senses: examples: text: Other groups have different messages: the National Policy Institute, fronted by Richard Spencer and designed to “elevate the consciousness of whites”; the Occidental Quarterly, run by CMS member Kevin MacDonald and presenting itself as a scholarly journal; American Third Position, later rebranded as the American Freedom Party, led by Johnson with “a platform that is predicated on the preservation of our traditional European roots.”
ref: 2022 May 20, Elle Reeve, “How White ‘replacement theory’ evolved from elderly racists to teens online to the alleged inspiration for another racist mass homicide”, in CNN:
synonyms: Spenser
glosses: An English surname originating as an occupation.
examples: text: Later, a 'person of interest' was said to be in custody in connection with Kirk's shooting, Utah governor Spencer Cox announced Wednesday evening.
ref: 2025 September 10, Joe Hutchison, “Tragedy as Charlie Kirk's wife left behind with two young children after conservative activist is fatally shot”, in Daily Mail:
glosses: A unisex given name.
A male given name transferred from the surname, of general 19th century and later usage.
glosses: A unisex given name.
A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.
glosses: A placename:
A suburb of Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia; probably named for British politician George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town in Massachusetts; named for Massachusetts governor Spencer Phips.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A city, the county seat of Clay County, Iowa.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A city in Oklahoma.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town in North Carolina; named for railroad executive Samuel Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town and village in New York; named for New York statesman Ambrose Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A city, the county seat of Roane County, West Virginia.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town, the county seat of Owen County, Indiana; named for Indiana militia officer Spier Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town and village in Wisconsin; named for the town in Massachusetts.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A town, the county seat of Van Buren County, Tennessee; named for longhunter Thomas Sharp Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A village in Ohio.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A village in Nebraska; perhaps named for Alabama statesman George E. Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A city in South Dakota; named for railroad official H. Spencer.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A hamlet in Idaho.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
An unincorporated community in Missouri; named for a local merchant.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
An unincorporated community in Virginia; named for first settler James Spencer Jr.
glosses: A placename:
A locality in the United States.
A number of townships in the United States, listed under Spencer Township.
glosses: A placename:
Ellipsis of Spencer County.
glosses: An English earldom.
Derived terms: County of Spencer
Spencer County
Spencer Gulf
Spencers Brook
Spencer Township
Township of Spencer