Derived from the Olde German Spies or Spietz. The name was a medieval job description for a wood worker, but one who specifically fashioned objects on a lathe. Occasionally the name can be locational and derives from the Town of Spies, also in Germany. There are several 'modern'spellings including Spies, Spiess and Spieck but all have the same origins and are better known in America than England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Spies of Bavaria. which was dated C. 1680, The Holy Roman Empire. during the reign of Emperor Leopold 1 1668 - 1705 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.