Surname Steehr - Meaning and Origin
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Steehr: What does the surname Steehr mean?
The last name Steehr is of German origin and is derived from the Middle German word 'stier' meaning 'ox' or 'bull'. Historically, it would have referred to a family who bred or owned bulls, either as a profession or a hobby.
The Steehr surname is also associated with the old Germanic word 'stirio' or 'steria', meaning 'clearing in the forest'. This suggests that a Steehr family could have lived in a farm or village near an area of cleared woodland.
The name is quite rare in modern-day Germany but is found in countries like the United States, Canada and Australia, likely due to emigration in the past century.
In the modern day, the name no longer has any connection to oxen or forests; it is simply an interesting last-name with a significant history and an interesting origin story.
Order DNA origin analysisSteehr: Where does the name Steehr come from?
The last name Steehr is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to have a Germanic origin, and it is thought to be a variation of the German surname Steher which derives from the Middle High German word "stêher" meaning to walk upright.
The surname is found mainly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, where it is the 35th and 44th most common name respectively. It is also found in smaller numbers in the states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, and Berlin, as well as in Switzerland.
Outside of Europe, Steehr is found in relatively small numbers in North America. It is most common in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania, though there are also small numbers in New York, California, and Illinois. In Canada, the name is found mostly in the province of Ontario and in British Columbia.
The Steehr surname is also found in some parts of Australasia, South Africa, and Latin America. However, the numbers are relatively small compared to its presence in Europe.
Variations of the surname Steehr
The surname Steehr is an anglicized spelling of the German surname Stehr or Stähr. Variations of this surname include Stahr, Steer, and Steere. Additionally, other spellings of the name include Staehr, Staer, Stair, Stayer, Steaire, Steare, Stear, Stearr, Steer, Stout, Stoutt, and Stowers.
Stehr is of Germanic origin, found especially in the Thuringia region of present-day Germany. In old German, the name Steehr was derived from the word “stahr”, meaning “strong” or “sturdy”. As a result, many of the variations of the name tend to carry a similar meaning, such as “one of many strengths” or “strong one”.
In some cases, the Steehr surname may have been derived from a place name, such as Steehrhau, which is a locality in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Additionally, the surname Stehr may have been derived from a first name, such as the old German name Sturr, short for Sturmeric.
In the English language, Stehr may be pronounced as either STEH-er or steer. The many variants, spellings, and surnames of Steehr can be found throughout the U.S., especially in Pennsylvania.
Famous people with the name Steehr
- Diane Steehr: Former actress and singer who appeared in several TV movies and the film, Friday the 13th Part 3.
- William Steehr: Current Member of the German band Beatbeatrain.
- Darryl Steehr: Former NHL left winger and current coach.
- Georg Steehr: Professional footballer who plays for German League club VfL Wolfsburg.
- Lee Steehr: American actor best known for his role as Private David Candell in the classic sci-fi horror movie, The Blob.
- Andrew Steehr: American former football defensive end.
- Barry Steehr: American author and freelance journalist who wrote two books about the Holocaust.
- Levi Steehr: Award-winning poet and college professor.
- Elizabeth Steehr: American mathematician and professor of mathematics at the Copper Mountain College in California.
- Steve Steehr: American former competition freestyle skier.
- Jordan Steehr: Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
- Adam Steehr: Former professional ice hockey goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks.
- Scott Steehr: Singer-songwriter active in the Midwest.
- Amber Steehr: Classical composer and teacher at the Inver Grove Heights Music Conservatory in Minnesota.
- Kenneth Steehr: American sound artist best known for his work with synthesizers.