SPILLER Family History

This uncommon and interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two quite distinct interpretations. Firstly, it may be an occupational name for a jester, juggler, or tumbler, one who travelled with the medieval fairs or was attached to the court, or to a nobleman's retinue. The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century verb "spilian", to play, jest, sport, in Middle English "spill(en)", with the addition of the agent suffix "-er", indicating "one who does or works with". The second possible derivation of the name is from the Olde English "spillan", in Middle English "spill(en)", to spoil, waste, squander; here the term "spiller" was used as a nickname for someone considered to be wasteful or spendthrift.