Surname Stefen - Meaning and Origin
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Stefen: What does the surname Stefen mean?
The last name Stefen is of German origin, derived from a given name that is related to the Germanic name, "Stephan". The name basically means "crown" or "garland" and is derived from the Greek name, "Stephanos".
In pre-Christian times, the name was originally used to refer to a crown of laurel leaves, which showed a victory in battle. In time, the name became associated with faithfulness and devotion, and this could be evidenced by the fact that the first Christian martyr was named Stephen.
As a given name, Stefen was fairly popular in the 16th century, and it enjoyed a resurgence among German and other immigrants in the 19th century. The last name is a popular variant of the name today, especially among people in Germany and North America.
Today, the name Stefen is chiefly associated with loyalty and dedication, as well as a high level of intelligence and wisdom. Generally, people with this name are seen as generous, kind, respectful, and dependable, as well as steadfast in their endeavors and moral principles. They are also seen as being reliable and are often viewed as a source of stability and guidance in difficult situations.
Order DNA origin analysisStefen: Where does the name Stefen come from?
The surname Stefen is most commonly found in countries of central and eastern Europe, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The prevalence of this surname in these countries is likely due to both migration and historic settlement patterns throughout the region.
In Germany, the variant spelling of 'Steffen' is most frequent, and is found in all parts of the country with the highest concentrations in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. Meanwhile, 'Stefan' is the variant most often seen in Austria, and is most abundant in the states of Tyrol, Styria, Salzburg, and Vienna.
In Hungary, the most common spelling is 'Stefan', and it is especially frequent in the Northern areas of the country such as Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun. In Poland, ‘Stefan’ and 'Stefański' are the spelling variants that are most heavily concentrated in the northern and central regions of the county. Similarly, the variants of ‘Stéfan’ and ‘Stefan’ are more common in Slovakia, and ‘Štefan’ is the most frequent variation in the Czech Republic.
In terms of international distribution, the surname Stefen is found in many other countries around the world, although the highest concentrations are still in Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Stefen
The surname Stefen has quite a few variants, spellings, and surnames that derive from the same root. Common variants of the name Stefen include Steffen, Steffan, Stephano, Stephane, Stephans, Stephanson, Stephenson, Stephon, and Stepan. The French spelling of the name is Stephane, which is sometimes shortened to Stefan.
Stephan is an alternate spelling of the name and goes back to its Greek origins (stephanos). This spelling is similarly used by native speakers of German who have adopted the name. The Dutch and Belgian version of the name is generally spelled Steven or Stefan, with the ‘v’ being swapped to an ‘f’.
Surnames that are similar in sound and origin to Stefen include Steffey, Steffgen, Stephany, Stephanie, Stepyan, and Stepyak. These particular surnames may have roots in places such as England, where names were based on the locations and regions of residence.
There are also other less-common spellings and surnames that trace their roots back to Stefen. These include Steffon, Steppon, and Stiefone. In addition, there are some Italian versions of the name such as Stefano and Stephanino.
Overall, the surname Stefen can have many different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the country and region of origin, the name will have slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Famous people with the name Stefen
- Stefanie Stappenbeck: German actress known for her roles in films such as Hiroshima, Der Boandlkramer und die ewige Liebe and Das Parfum.
- Stefan Ruthenbeck: German professional footballer known for his time with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
- Stefan Sagmeister: Austrian designer, educator and artist based in New York. Known for his iconic album cover artwork for The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang, as well as other creative projects.
- Stefan Wisniewski: American former football player. Played in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Stefan Frei: Swiss professional football goalkeeper for Seattle Sounders. Also the all time leader in saves for the Canadian National Team.
- Stefan Effenberg: Retired German professional footballer. Most well known for his time with Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg
- Stefan Edberg: Former world-renowned professional Swedish tennis player. Won six Grand Slam singles titles (two Wimbledon singles titles, two Australian Open singles titles, and two US Open singles titles).