Surname Schieferstein - Meaning and Origin
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Schieferstein: What does the surname Schieferstein mean?
The last name Schieferstein is of German origin and is derived from the German words "schiefer" meaning "slanted" or "oblique" and "stein" meaning "stone". According to some sources, the name originated in the Middle Ages and was meant to denote a person who owned a sloping or steeply slanted piece of land, most likely a quarry.
As occupational surnames, they were given to quarry owners and workers, such as slaters, slate carvers, stone cutters, or masons who worked on rocky slopes. A slanted or steeply slanted piece of land was ideal for quarrying as it made it easy to break off and remove individual stones. Other people with this name may have made a living by mining for coal, salt, or other minerals.
Schieferstein has come to be associated with the steady, resourceful, and able character traits of those given the name. It is also seen as associated with good luck.
In modern times, the Schieferstein name is commonly found throughout Germany and the United States, particularly in regions with large German-speaking populations.
Order DNA origin analysisSchieferstein: Where does the name Schieferstein come from?
The last name Schieferstein is most common in Germany today. In fact, according to the German National Telephone Directory, over 781 listings of individuals bearing this surname exist. The surname is mostly concentrated in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and Lower Saxony in the south, south-west, and north-west of the country, respectively.
Data from the surname database DarkComet reveals that the highest concentration of Schieferstein's in Germany (and worldwide) is in the cities of Hamburg, Berlin, and Lübeck, taking up 1.92%, 1.43%, and 0.92% of the country's population, respectively. The Schieferstein surname is less common in other European countries, especially in Poland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, where the surname is incredibly rare.
Schieferstein is believed to have evolved from the Middle High German word scefernstein, which translates as “slate stone”. This indicates that it could possibly have been a descriptive nickname given to someone who worked in the mining and stonemasonry industries. It is also thought that the name derived from another Middle High German phrase - Schafer stein - meaning “shepherd’s stone”.
The surname Schieferstein is likely to have emerged during the 13th and 14th century. During this period, people began to adopt permanent hereditary surnames instead of changing or using patronymic surnames. It is thought that the Schieferstein family started in the south-west of Germany and eventually spread to other parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Schieferstein
The surname Schieferstein, which is German for "slate stone", has several variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. These include:
Schifferstein: This is the most common variation of the surname, with many records of people bearing the name residing in Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. It is often spelled Schifferstaine or Schifsterstaine.
Schiefenstein: This version of the surname is mostly found in Germany. It can also be spelled Schieferstähn, Schieferstehn, Schieferstain, Schieferstäin, and even Schifsterstein.
Schieferstyl: A variant of Schieferstein that tends to be found in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Schiefersztein: A surname primarily found in Poland, with spellings such as Schiefersztaing, Shifersztailn, and Schifersztajn.
Schifresztayn: A variation of the Schieferstein surname primarily found in Poland and Ukraine.
Szfersztein: A rare variant of Schieferstein originating primarily from Ukraine, and also found in Poland.
The Schieferstein surnames has multiple origins, including German, Dutch, Polish, Ukrainian and Belgian. These various variations and dialects of the same name indicate a wide dispersal of the surname over Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. All of these variations of the same surname share a common source and are all related to the same family.
Famous people with the name Schieferstein
- Sarah Schieferstein: Composer and sound designer based in Los Angeles, she works in film, television, video games and experimental projects.
- Jacob Schieferstein: German rugby union player currently playing with Rugby Club Heidelberger RK.
- Wilhelmine Schieferstein: 19th century German operatic soprano.
- Erich Schieferstein: German tennis player, competed in the singles event of the 1929 French Championships.
- Alfred Schieferstein: German architect and urban planner, he had a major influence on architecture and city planning for the 20th century.
- Myron Schieferstein: Award-winning American Jazz saxophonist who has performed on over 75 recordings.
- Jeremias Schieferstein: German violinist and composer who contributed to the development of the Mannheim school of composition in the late 1700's.
- Peter Schieferstein: Entrepreneur, investor and author of financial books; he is the Founder and CEO of FinTru, a financial technology company.
- Doris Schieferstein: German Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1972 summer Games.
- John Schieferstein: American cinematographer who worked in the film industry for over 20 years.
- Helmut Schieferstein: German mountaineer who has climbed several of the highest peaks in the Alps.
- Eva Schieferstein: German pianiust and composer, known for her pieces for the piano.