The Passion of Infinity

Greenspan is a typically Ashkenazi Jewish surname. It is the anglicized form of the Yiddish surname Grünspan (Yiddish: גריןשפּאַן, lit. 'green branch/green bridle', actually referring to Copper(II) acetate which was commonly known as "Spanish green"). Cognate are the surnames Grynszpan, Grinszpan and Grinshpan (Poland, Romania, Hungary).