Surname Staver - Meaning and Origin
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Staver: What does the surname Staver mean?
The last name Staver is an occupational name that has its origin in the Middle Ages. It was used to denote someone who was engaged in the teaching, making, or repairing of staves, which is a type of wooden pole. As such, the surname has associations with craftsmen who worked in the trades associated with producing and using wooden poles.
The surname originates from the word “stave”, derived from the old English “staef”, which was used for “pole”. Over the centuries, the word has come to be associated with all sorts of tools, including boat oars, flag poles, measuring sticks, and even shepherds’ crooks.
In some instances, the name Staver might also have come from the Old English word “†stefer”, which meant “guide”, “light”, or “pillar”, which would refer to a person who offered guidance and support. The surname possibly also has Germanic origins, as the name was used to refer to someone who was a staff bearer or a herald in Middle Low and High German. In fact, Staver is still used as a first name today in German-speaking countries.
Whichever origin applies to the Staver family, it is clear that the original holder of the name was an important figure in the community. Staving is a skilled occupation that was essential to producing and working with wooden tools, and such a person was likely used to traveling with the goods or the people they were responsible for. As such, the Stavers likely moved from place to place, settling down wherever their skill was needed.
Order DNA origin analysisStaver: Where does the name Staver come from?
The last name Staver is most commonly found in the United States and Canada.
In the United States, its two highest concentrations are in California and Washington State, each accounting for more than 2,000 people with the last name. In California, some of the most populated cities include Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, and Fresno. North of the border, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia have the highest numbers.
In terms of ethnicity, Staver is primarily of German and Scandinavian origin. In respect to German Stavers, many prominent individuals moved to Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s, settling primarily in Berks and Lancaster Counties. Other populations of German immigrants who arrived later moved to Central Ohio, and a notable group of Swedish Stavers settled in North Dakota.
In terms of usage today, the last name has remained relatively rare thanks to this limited population. It is estimated that only about 8,500 people in the United States have this surname, as of the 2020 census. However, it is still found in some large cities like Seattle, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
Variations of the surname Staver
The surname Staver has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames that are of the same origin.
The most common variants of Staver are Stauver, Stover, and Stavert. Stauver is of German descent, while Stover is a Scottish variant of the surname. Stavert is also found in Scotland as well as in certain English regions. All of these variants can be traced back to the Old English “staef,” meaning “staff” or “stave.”
In addition to these variants, there are several surnames of the same origin, such as Stavers, Stavers, Staffer, and Steffer. Stavers and Stavers are both English variants of the same name, while Staffer and Steffer are German variants. All four of these surnames can be traced back to their original “staef” root.
Other surnames, such as Stauffer, Stawer, Staewer, and Staverman, are also of the same origin as Staver. Stauffer is a German variant of the surname, while Stawer is an English variant. Staewer and Staverman are both English surnames, but the latter has been used far less frequently than the others.
Overall, the surname Staver has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. From the German Stauver to the English-Scottish Stavers, all these surnames can be traced back to the same Old English “staef” root.
Famous people with the name Staver
- 1.John Staver: John Staver is an American theater professional who has served as the artistic director for the Oregon Children's Theatre, the nation's largest children's theater. 2.Andrea Staver: Andrea Staver is a former American model and humanitarian. She is the founder of Project Fore, an organization that provides basic necessities to orphaned children in Kenya. 3.Mark Staver: Mark is a professor of law at the Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is an expert on constitutional law and religious liberty litigation. 4.Allen Staver: Allen Staver is an American drummer and creator of sets for various major television networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and Comedy Central. 5.Greta Staver: Greta Staver is an American musician and songwriter. She has opened for artists like Carly Rae Jepsen, Demi Lovato, and Ledisi. 6.Alan Staver: Alan Staver is an American economist and professor at the Purdue University Krannert School of Business. 7.Freck Staver: Freck Staver is a New York-based artist focusing on art dealing with gender, sexuality, and identity. He is best known for his painted board works exploring the idea of binaries. 8.Stuart Staver: Stuart Staver is an American multimedia artist and producer who is most noted for directing the feature film, The Rock Bottom Remainders. 9.David Staver: David Staver is an American restaurateur whose popular steakhouse, David Staver's, has been featured in Southern Living Magazine.
- Kari Staver: Kari is an American author and columnist, specializing in mystery, suspense, and horror novels. She is the author of five novels, including the USA Today Bestseller A Need So Dire.