Surname Steerman - Meaning and Origin
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Steerman: What does the surname Steerman mean?
The last name "Steerman" is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a variant of the surname "Steerman" which derived from the Old English word "stierrmann" or "steormann". It translates to "steersman" or "helmsman", denoting someone who was responsible for steering or guiding a ship. This occupational surname could have initially referred to the navigator of a sailing vessel. Due to the nature of the medieval era, roles or occupations often became family names, tracking the family's course of business or labor. Therefore, a person named Steerman or his ancestors may have been involved in professions related to water-trade and navigation. As with many surnames, variations in spelling have occurred over time due to regional pronunciations and record-keeping practices. Hence, the spelling Steerman is one of many variations that stem from the same origin.
Order DNA origin analysisSteerman: Where does the name Steerman come from?
The surname Steerman is a very uncommon one today, as it has a limited geographic distribution. It is most common in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania. Based on data from the 2018 U.S. Census, only 1,018 people had the last name Steerman. This signals a sharp decline since 2000, when 1,709 people had the last name Steerman. Outside of Pennsylvania, the surname is found in small numbers in other parts of the United States and Canada.
The surname Steerman is of German origin, and is derived from the German word “stearman”, which means the keeper of the stables. It is thought that this was most likely a hereditary surname, given to a family who was responsible for the maintenance of stables over several generations.
The Steerman family can trace its roots back to at least the 18th century. In Pennsylvania, the Steerman family has been identified in Berks County since the late 1700s. The earliest known Steerman ancestor was Philip Sergeant who moved from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1745.
Given its limited geographic distribution, the last name Steerman is very uncommon today. However, the Steerman family has many descendants today in Pennsylvania, the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Steerman
The surname Steerman has several variants, spellings, and surnames that come from the same origin.
The most common variation is Steerman. Other variations include Steeurman, Stierman, Steinman, Steffan, Stehman, and Sieman.
Steerman is a Germanic surname and is believed to be derived from the Old German word “stiormann,” which means storm or tempest. This could have been given as a nickname to someone with a fierce, tempestuous nature or a tumultuous lifestyle.
The surname Steerman is also found in many other countries, including The Netherlands, Flanders, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In Dutch, it is most often spelled as Steurman, Stuer, Staarman, and Steerman. In Denmark, the spelling is usually Steenman, and in Swedish and Norwegian, Stierman.
Other surnames that stem from the same origin as Steerman include Stehmann, Steevens, Steenvoorden, and Stuart. In some cases, the surname has morphed to include spellings such as Steed and Steedman.
There may be other rare and unusual spellings of the surname Steerman, as many surnames evolved into different forms and spellings depending on local dialectal and language shifts over time.
Famous people with the name Steerman
- Joram van Klaveren: Dutch politician of the nationalist Party for Freedom
- Bart Steerman: Belgian film director and documentary filmmaker
- Tracey Steerman: Entrepreneur and hospitality industry leader
- Rob Steerman: American fine artist, sculptor, designer, and director
- Robert Steerman: American professional golf player
- Jim Steerman: American television series director and producer
- Robby Steerman: American rock and pop singer-songwriter
- Max Steerman: Award-winning documentary cinematographer
- Christina Steerman: American reality television personality
- Paulo Steerman: Venezuelan politician