Surname Steele - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Steele Ancestry: A journey through DNA testing

Ever fascinated with family history, I embarked on a journey to uncover the true story of my ancestors, the Steeles. Through a DNA test at iGENEA, I discovered a heritage filled with warriors, mysterious Celtic ties, and linkages to an Irish High King. These unexpected revelations reshaped my self-perception and filled me with a sense of pride in where I come from.

O. Steele

Steele: What does the surname Steele mean?

Steele is an English surname that comes from the Old English word "style" which means steel. The name Steele was initially used as an occupational name during the Middle Ages for individuals who were either metalworkers, especially those who worked with steel, or those who used steel in their craft such as an armorer. It earned admiration and respect due to the importance and skill involved in these occupations. By highlighting a particular work, an occupational surname reflected the employment or trade of the first person who used the name. Today, although individuals with the last name Steele no longer necessarily work with steel, the name harks back to their ancestors who likely did.

Steele: Where does the name Steele come from?

The last name Steele is a common surname found throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.

In the United States, Steele is the 832nd most common last name, with an estimated 119,649 people in the nation having that moniker. It is most popular in Tennessee, where approximately 0.19% of the population possess the surname. Other states where it is more commonly found are Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

In the United Kingdom, Steele is the 102nd most popular last name, with approximately 14,532 individuals having the name. It is most widely used throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the latter having the highest concentration of Steele individuals.

In Canada, Steele is the 48th most common last name, with 36,899 individuals having taken on the moniker. Individuals possessing this surname are most concentrated in Ontario, followed by Alberta and British Columbia.

In Australia, Steele is the 208th most common last name, with approximately 10,022 people having taken on the name. The most popular states for Steele individuals are Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales.

Finally, in Ireland, Steele is the 79th most common last name, with an estimated 8,567 individuals having the name. It is the most prominent name in Ulster, followed by Leinster, Munster, and Connacht.

Variations of the surname Steele

The Steele surname is derived from the Old English word stel which means "steel". This surname has been used for centuries and has many variants and spellings. Some of the most common variants of this surname include Steel, Steels, Steil, Stell, Staal, and Stahl.

Steel is the most common variant of this surname. This variant of the Steele name is most prevalent throughout the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It is also found in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Steels and Steil are somewhat less common variations of Steele. Steels is found distributed throughout England, Canada, the United States, Belgium, and Australia. Steil is most commonly found in Germany.

Stell and Stahl are less common variations of Steele, but can also be commonly found in Germany, while Staal is primarily found in the Netherlands and Belgium.

There are also variants of Steele that appear to have formed from variants of other surnames. Some of these include Steelman, Steelmanning, and Steelington that appear to have developed from a merger of the words Steel and Man.

Overall, the Steele surname has many variants and spellings. It is found in many different countries and can take on many different forms. Regardless, they all originate from the Old English word ‘stel’ and currently there is no one definitive way to spell the surname.

Famous people with the name Steele

• Michael Steele: politician, former chairman of the Republican National Committee
• Burt Reynolds: actor, starred in Smokey and the Bandit
• Sir David Steele: British security and intelligence professional
• Lexi Steele: adult film actress
• Michelle Steele: Olympic basketball player
• Neal Steele: U.S. Navy admiral
• Rodney Steele: NBA basketball player
• Taylor Steele: professional surfer
• Alicia Steele: physicist
• Marcus Steele: NFL football player
• Shannon Steele: track and field athlete
• Brian Steele: actor and motion capture specialist
• Chris Steele: singer-songwriter
• Phil Steele: college football analyst
• Michael Steele-Norton: retired British Army officer
• Joanne Steele: Australian author
• Dayton Steele: Canadian singer-songwriter
• Felicia Steele: Australian singer
• Joe Steele: professional footballer
• Ralph Steele: professional wrestler

Other surnames

SteelSteeley