Background: The name of SPEAR, SPEARS, SPEER, or SPIER(S) is said to be derived from the occupation of its first bearer as a "spier" or watchman and is of very ancient origin. On the Scotch records the name is usually given as Spiers, the final s being genitive; and it is found on old English and early American records in the various forms of Spyer, Spyre, Speyer, Spire, Speere, Speier, Spere, Speir, Speirs, Speers, Speare, Spiers, Spier, Speer, Spears, Spear, and others, of which the last three are the most generally accepted spellings in America today, while the four variants immediately preceding them are also frequently used.