Surname Steggel - Meaning and Origin
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Steggel: What does the surname Steggel mean?
The surname Steggel is believed to be of English origin, particularly from the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English "stigol," which is a diminutive of "stige," meaning a stile or steps. In the context of a last name, it would refer to someone who lived near a stile or a set of steps. The name could also possibly denote someone who built stiles or steps or guided people over them.
Like many surnames, region and occupation heavily influenced the formation of Steggel. Surnames often served as identifiers, helping distinguish people by their trade or location. Therefore, someone bearing the Steggel surname likely had some connection to stiles or steps, whether it was their profession or the geographical characteristics of their home.
However, family surnames' meanings can evolve over time or have different origins based on regional dialects and languages. So, while this is a likely interpretation of the Steggel surname, others may exist depending on the family's specific history.
Order DNA origin analysisSteggel: Where does the name Steggel come from?
The last name Steggel is most commonly found in Germany, where it is amongst the top 1,000 most common surnames. It is also reasonably common in Austria and Switzerland, and can be found to a lesser extent around Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Sweden. Steggel is also found in certain parts of the United States, mainly in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, indicating that the family originated from the German-speaking parts of Europe and immigrated relatively recently.
Steggel is believed to be an occupational surname, referring to people who were carpenters or builders of wooden structures. This is implied by the original spelling of the name, Steg, which is derived from the German word for a plank or beam. The name would have been taken on by people who lived in rural areas, where carpentry was a very important skill and where lumber and wood were abundant.
Today, there are many variations of the surname, such as Stegel, Steigle, and Steigel, with the original Steg spelling having all but died out. However, even though the spelling has changed, the name is still just as common today as it was hundreds of years ago, indicating a long and successful family history.
Variations of the surname Steggel
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Steggel can include the following: Steggal, Steggall, Steggell, Stegel, Stegall, Stegel, Stegelle, Stegell, Steigel, Stigal, Stigall, Stigel, Stigelle.
Steggel is a German surname, originating from the word “Stiegel,” which means “stove,” and could have been used as a metonymic occupational name for a stove maker or seller. It is believed to be derived from the Old High German words “stieg” and “stiegale,” both meaning “ladder,” and could have been used as a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of ladders.
Origin in the United States is largely found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, as these states were some of the earliest to be settled by German immigrants. Pennsylvania German Mennonite families brought the name with them from Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variant spellings of the name could have occurred due to record-keepers’ misinterpretation of German handwriting, and further variation could have occurred as the name was pronounced differently in various dialects and regions. Spelling variants of the Southern German dialect of Hofmann include — Stägäl, Stägel, Stegl, Stögl, Stögle, Stögel — while Bavarian dialects include Staigl, Staigol, Staigal, Steagel and Støgel.
The surname Steggel is still in use today in multiple parts of Europe and the United States. Notably, actor Barry W. Stigall is of German descent and is likely of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Steggel
- Maria Steggell: Maria Steggell was a Danish-American actress who gained fame in Hollywood during the 1940s.
- Eric Steggel: Eric Steggel is an American musician and composer. He has composed the score for many films, including The Boxtrolls and Horton Hears a Who!.
- Maren Steggell: Maren Steggell is a Danish writer and journalist. She is best known for her memoir Finding Home, which chronicles her own experience of rising out of poverty and emigrating to the US.
- Hans Steggel: Hans Steggel was a German-Mexican civil engineer and entrepreneur. He is credited with introducing the automobile to México in the early 1900s.
- Martine Steggel: Martine Steggel is a German fashion designer. She is the founder of her eponymous label, which focuses on producing sustainably-sourced fabrics and designs.
- Margarete Steggel: Margarete Steggel was a German actress who worked in both film and stage productions during the 1940s.
- Helga Steggell: Helga Steggell is a German photographer and artist. Her works often explore themes of identity and belonging in various cultural contexts.
- Karl Steggell: Karl Steggell was a German theologian and professor. He specialized in New Testament exegesis and authored several books on the subject.
- Kayleigh Steggel: Kayleigh Steggel is an American Olympic gold medalist and rhythmic gymnast. She competed for her country in the 2008 Beijing Games.
- Ludwig Steggell: Ludwig Steggell was a Prussian engineer and inventor. He is credited with inventing the earliest prototype of the modern water-powered spinning mule, a precursor to the industrial spinning machines that are still used today.