Surname Steffen - Meaning and Origin
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S. Steffen
read moreSteffen: What does the surname Steffen mean?
The last name Steffen is of German origin and is thought to be derived from the given name "Stephan," which is the German form of "Stephen." The surname actually originated as a patronymic family name, meaning that it was derived from the given name of a person's father or a more distant ancestor.
The feminine form of the last name Steffen is "Steffens," while the plural form is "Steffens" or, less commonly, "Steffesen." The Steffens spelling is more common in Central Europe (particularly the German-speaking countries), while the Steffesen spelling is more common in North Europe (particularly the Netherlands).
The meaning of the name Steffen is "Crown". This is likely derived from the Greek name "Stephanos," which means "Crown" or "Garland." Alternatively, it may be derived from the Old German word "Stauf" or "Staufen," meaning "crowned," and was a reference to the legend that a Byzantine emperor named Stephanus was crowned with a hedge of thorns.
In modern times, the name Steffen has spread far beyond its Germanic roots and is common in parts of Europe, North America, Australia, and even some parts of Africa. It is usually a given name, but can also be used as a surname. As a given name, Steffen is often used as an independent name, meaning that it is not a shortened form of another name.
Order DNA origin analysisSteffen: Where does the name Steffen come from?
The origins of the last name Steffen are from Germany. The name is mainly found in German-speaking countries as well as all over Europe. In the United States, the surname Steffen is currently most commonly found in the Midwest region, with significant numbers also in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
In Germany, the name Steffen is most typically found in the north of the country, with Lower Saxony and Hamburg being the locations with the highest frequency of the name. There is also a significant presence in Bavaria, particularly around the south-eastern part of the region.
In Austria, the last name Steffen is much more widespread, with large numbers to be found in Styria and Vienna. Switzerland also has a sizable Steffen population located mainly in the east of the country along the borders with Germany and Austria.
The Steffen name is also found across numerous Eastern European countries, including the Czech Republic and Hungary. The presence of the name also extends further east to Russia and the Ukraine, although numbers are relatively small. In addition, there are several countries in the region with large populations of Steffen people, including Israel, Argentina, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Steffen
The surname Steffen is a variant of Stephen, which originated from the Greek name "Stephanos". Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Stefen, Steffan, Steffens, Steffenoph, Stephans, Stephens, Stephani, Stephanus, Stepniak, Stephanoff, Stefánsson, and Steponavicius.
Steffen is a German surname and originated from a Middle High German given name derived from the Greek "Stephanos", meaning "crown or wreath". It is derived from the Greek verb "stephanoo", meaning "to encircle or surround". As the name spread across Europe, it changed due to various linguistic influences.
In German, the surname has various spellings such as Steffens, Steffenoph, Stephans, Stepniak, Stephanoff, and Steponavicius. In Dutch, it is spelled Stephans, Stephens, or Stefans. In Danish, it is spelled Stefan or Stefánsson. In Latin, the variation is Stephanus.
The surnames Stephanoff and Steponavicius are from Slavic countries, which means "son of Stephan". These variants are especially common in Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus.
In England and Wales, the original attitude towards last name spelling was unstructured and disorderly. Therefore, the various spellings of Steffen might be modified into Stephins, Stefen, Steffan, or Stephani.
In the United States, the name has been adapted to match the English spelling. Variations such as Steffen, Stephani, Stephanus, or Stephane have become somewhat common in the US.
In conclusion, Steffen is a popular surname which has multiple spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin originating from the Greek name “Stephanos”, meaning “crown or wreath”.
Famous people with the name Steffen
- Brian Steffen: Former professional American football running back that played for the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Anthony Steffen: Italian actor best known for his work in spaghetti westerns.
- Uwe Steffen: German football manager and former player.
- Gavin Steffen: American actor and writer most known for his work on Criminal Minds and Hawaii Five-O.
- Nick Steffen: American Olympic swimmer and current world record holder in the 400-meter freestyle.
- Abby Steffen: American stage actress best known from her work on Broadway and voiceover work in video games.
- Jung-Ho Kang: South Korean professional baseball infielder for the Piratas de Campeche.
- Emily Steffen: American former professional soccer player and current assistant coach for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League.
- Trey Steffen: American professional golfer currently playing on the Gentleman Tour.
- Reinhold Steffen: Austrian-born Swiss mountain guide, filmmaker, author, and expedition organizer. He is the first Swiss man to summit Everest.