Shapiro, and its variations such as Shapira, Schapiro, Schapira, Sapira, Spira, Sapiro, Szapiro (in Polish) and Chapiro (in French), is a Jewish surname which can be either Ashkenazi or Sephardi.
One theory suggests that it derives from Shpira, the Hebrew/Yiddish name for Spira (Hebrew: שפירא, pronounced Shpira, (which, according to the Hebrew dictionary is an Aramaic borrow word meaning "handsome"), the medieval name of Speyer, Germany. The Jewish community of Speyer, one of the ShUM-cities in the Rhineland, was a leading centre in the development of Ashkenazi culture. Other name variants are Sapiro, Spira, Spire, Spiro, Spero, Chapiro, Sprai, Szpir, Szpiro, Saphir, Sapir and Spear. The name "Speyer" has also become a well-known surname that was spread by Jews from Frankfurt to England, the United States and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th century. Another theory suggests that the name has Sephardic origin—it derives from San Pedro, one of the Jewish settlements in Spain. The Jewish community of Spain was a leading centre in the development of Sephardic culture.
Adam Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleAlan Shapiro, American poetAlan Shapiro (education reformer), American education reformerAlan N. Shapiro (born 1956), American science fiction and media theoristAlex Shapiro, American composerAllen Shapiro, American investorAndrew H. Schapiro, American diplomatAri Shapiro, a reporter with National Public RadioArnold Shapiro (born 1941), American television producer and writerArnold S. Shapiro, American mathematicianArthur Shapiro, entamologist and ecologistArthur K. Shapiro, psychiatrist and expert on the Tourette syndrome (1923–1995)Artie Shapiro (1916–2003), American jazz bassistAscher H. Shapiro, MIT professor and expert in fluid dynamics (1916–2004)Ben Shapiro, conservative American political columnistBenjamin Shapiro, interfaith pioneer UK (born 1972)Bernard Shapiro, academic, civil servantBeth Shapiro, evolutionary biologistCal Shapiro, vocalist, TimefliesCarl Shapiro, (born 1955) UC Berkeley economist and mathematicianCarl J. Shapiro (born 1913), Boston philanthropistCarol Harris-Shapiro, Reconstructionist rabbiCharles S. Shapiro, American diplomatDaniel B. Shapiro, U.S. ambassador to IsraelDavid Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleDmitry Shapiro, entrepreneur, inventor, GooglerEhud Shapiro, Israeli computer scientistElisha Shapiro, American neo-Dada artist & presidential candidate.Florence Shapiro, American politicianFrancine Shapiro, American psychologistFred R. Shapiro, American legal librarian and editorGeorge Shapiro, American Talent ProducerGerald Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleHarold S. Shapiro, mathematics professorHarold T. Shapiro, American university presidentHarvey Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleHelen Shapiro, British singerIan Shapiro, American political scientistIlya Piatetski-Shapiro, mathematician (1929–2009)Irwin Shapiro (1911–1981), American writer and translatorIrwin I. Shapiro, astrophysicistIrving Shapiro (1904–1931), one of the Shapiro Brothers, New York City labor racketeersIrving S. Shapiro, attorney, former CEO of DupontJ. David Shapiro, American filmmaker and stand-up comedianJacob Shapiro, mobsterJames Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleJeremy J. Shapiro, professor at Fielding Graduate University.Jesse Shapiro, American economistJim Shapiro (attorney)Jim Shapiro (drummer), musician (Veruca Salt)Joel Shapiro, artist and sculptorJoseph N. Shapiro (1887—1961), urologist, one of the founders of the urologic oncology in RussiaJonathan Shapiro, South African political cartoonistJudith Shapiro, former president of Barnard CollegeJustine Shapiro, Documentary Filmmaker and Globe Trekker hostKarl Shapiro, United States poetLaurie Gwen Shapiro, American novelist and filmmakerLee Shapiro, American film maker, killed by the Soviet military in AfghanistanLinda Hopkins Shapiro, better known as Tera Patrick, a former American pornographic actressMarc B. Shapiro, professor of Judaic Studies at University of ScrantonMark Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleMarla Shapiro, Canadian medical doctor, author and health journalist (print, television)Meir Shapiro, Orthodox rabbiMendel Shapiro, Modern Orthodox rabbiMeyer Shapiro (1908–1931), one of the Shapiro Brothers, New York City labor racketeersMichael Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleNat Mayer Shapiro, American visual artistNeal Shapiro, president of PBS station Thirteen/WNET New York City.Nevin Shapiro (born 1969), convicted American fraudster and central figure in the 2011 University of Miami athletics scandalNorma Levy Shapiro, United States federal judgeNorman Shapiro, American mathematician and computer scientistPaul Shapiro (disambiguation), several peoplePeter Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleRalph Shapiro (1908–1974), New York politicianRashi Shapiro, Orthodox rabbi, Jewish folk-rock musician, psychologistRefael Shapiro, Orthodox rabbiRick Shapiro, comedian and actorRobert Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleRoy D. Shapiro, Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business SchoolSamantha Harris Shapiro, American TV host (Dancing with the Stars, Entertainment Tonight)Samuel Shapiro (disambiguation), several peopleSaul Shapiro, president of the Metropolitan Television Alliance, LLC (MTVA)Seymour Shapiro, an American chemist who pioneered development of pharmaceuticals for use against diabetesShmuel Shapiro (born 1974), Chassidic-Jewish singer, Hazan and composer.Sidney Shapiro, an American author and translatorStanley J. Shapiro, professor Emeritus of Marketing at Simon Fraser UniversitySteve Shapiro, American music producerStewart Shapiro, philosopher and logicianStuart Loren Shapiro, better known as Todd Loren (1960–1992), American publisherStuart S. Shapiro, producer, writer, director, and Internet entrepreneurSumner Shapiro, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and former director of the Office of Naval IntelligenceTed Shapiro (1899–1980), U.S. popular music composer, pianist, and sheet music publisherTheodore Shapiro (psychiatrist), psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in New YorkTheodore Shapiro (composer), composerTodd Shapiro, Canadian radio show hostWalter Shapiro, American journalist and columnistWilliam "Willie" Shapiro (1911–1934), one of the Shapiro Brothers, New York City labor racketeers"Miss Shapiro", a song by 801 from the album 801 Live