Surname Steegh - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Steegh: What does the surname Steegh mean?
The origin of the surname Steegh can be traced back to Dutch roots. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word steeghe, meaning ‘narrow street, lane, lane way, or alley’. Common in the medieval period, the surname likely originated as a topographic name for someone who lived on, or near, a narrow street. Alternatively, Steegh can be an occupational surname for someone who worked in or owned a business on a narrow street.
The name Steegh appears in records as far back as Rotterdam in the early 17th century, where Michiel Cornelisz Steegh was christened in 1616. Records also indicate that Steegh is an established surname in the Netherlands, especially in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Zeeland. Individuals bearing the surname have been recorded in some of the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean, such as Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire and Surinam.
Today, the surname Steegh can still be found throughout the Netherlands, as well as in the many countries that Dutch immigrants settled in. This includes the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The spelling of the surname can range from Steegh to Steig, Steigher, Steigh, and Staigh.
Order DNA origin analysisSteegh: Where does the name Steegh come from?
The last name Steegh is Dutch in origin and is most commonly found in present day Netherlands. However, it is believed to have originated during the medieval period, when migration into the Low Countries was abundant, and has since spread elsewhere. The Netherlands itself is now home to the most Steeghs – including the two provinces of North and South Holland – but it is also quite popular in the United States, where it was brought by Dutch settlers. It has also become widespread in Germany, Belgium, and Australia. The popularity of the name Steegh fallen from its highest point during the 1880s, but since the beginning of the 21st century, it still remains as one of the more common surnames in the Netherlands.
Outside of the Netherlands, Steeghs can be found in most large cities, though their numbers did diminish in the 20th century. Some of the more popular cities they can be found in today are Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Brussels, and Melbourne. Furthermore, it is accessible on genealogical sites, often in combination with other surnames, such as Meijers, Groenewegen, de Boer, and den Hartog. All of this suggests that the last name Steegh is still quite common throughout the world today.
Variations of the surname Steegh
Steegh is an old Dutch surname, likely derived from the place name, Steigum, which is found in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. The variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin for Steegh include:
Steg, Stege, Stegen/Steeghen, Stegma, Stegeman, Steelman, Steegher, Steeghem, Steging/Stegingh, Steevens, Stegh, Steghuijs, Stegink, Stegemans, Stegenga, Stegink, Steggerda, Steynam, Stieman, Steijaert, Steegstra, Stigter, Steyaert and Steijn.
In the Netherlands, Steegh still carries on as a Flanider name today, while Steelman is the predominant spelling used in the United States. The spelling of the name may have changed as well, as it’s not always clear what letter the initial ‘S’ should be.
The oldest known variant of the surname dates back to 1267, when a Heynse van Stege was mentioned in Vrieslaand. Wibrondus van Steghen is mentioned in a document from 1383, and Vae Throne Stegh is mentioned in 1389 as witnessing a deed.
Since the late 1500s, the name Steegh has spread to other parts of the world, with many variants evolving as people changed countries and cultures. From 1690 to 1720 in Pennsylvania, payment records were made to Styegh Steykens and Seger Steelman from the Quaker Meeting Houses.
The Steegh surname is considered a rare name, with less than 400 people in the United States using the name. It is still present in the Netherlands, however, where the present spelling of Steegh is widely used.
Famous people with the name Steegh
- Stephen Steegh: Stephen is a famous furniture designer from northern Sweden.
- Willem van Steegh: Willem is a Dutch painter known for his still-life and portrait paintings during the Dutch Golden Age.
- Ian Steegh: Ian is an American-born British classical historian known for his work on Augustan Rome.
- Phil Steegh: Phil is an Australian actor, best known for his roles in Australia, such as 'Neighbors' and 'Home and Away'.
- Caterina Steegh: Caterina is an Italian illustrator whose work has been published in numerous books and magazines.
- Peter Steegh: Peter is a Dutch jazz musician and composer who has released several albums and won several awards.
- Rick Steegh: Rick is an American film composer, and is best known for his work on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise.
- Carl Steegh: Carl is a German jurist and author, best known for his works on legal theory and the philosophy of law.
- Andrew Steegh: Andrew is an English composer and conductor, best known for his operas and symphonies.
- Karel Steegh: Karel is a Dutch artist and printmaker, who is known for his intaglio prints and is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in Amsterdam.