Surname Stehly - Meaning and Origin
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Stehly: What does the surname Stehly mean?
The last name Stehly is of German origin, derived from the given name “Stephan”. The first recorded spelling of the family name appeared in 1237, in the records from Ansbach in Bavaria. It is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word “stehe”, which means “pillar” or “column”. As such, the original bearer of the name was likely a tall, strong man.
In German Heraldry, the Stehly name is associated with the allegory of “standing tall against adversity”, a trait which the original Stehly family was said to possess. In the 1700s, many Stehlys were also recorded as Brent Wines, originating in the area of Sachsen Anhalt, an indication of their ancestors’ noble roots.
More recently, the Stehly family has grown to become a respected and illustrious name in Germany and abroad. Famous Stehlys have included Wolfgang Stehly, a German sculptor and entrepreneur, Gertrud Stehly, Ursula Stehly, a celebrated German author and actress, and several other notable members of the Stehly dynasty.
The last name Stehly is associated with strength, courage and resilience - traits that embody the family's commitment to standing tall against difficulty.
Order DNA origin analysisStehly: Where does the name Stehly come from?
The last name Stehly is most common today in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. It was originally derived from a German phrase meaning ‘formerly the place of a blazing fire’, which may have referred to a homesteader’s lit hearth. The Stehly surname is also associated with the city of Stuttgart in southern Germany, which is thought to have been the original hometown of the Stehly family.
In Switzerland, it is estimated that there are approximately 11,000 people with the last name Stehly, making it one of the country’s most prominent surnames. In the nearby German region, the Stehly family can be found across a wide variety of noble families, with members holding titles like Prince, Baron, Count, Duke, and King. In Austria, it is uncertain how many individuals hold the Stehly name, but it is certainly among the more notable Austrian genealogies.
The Stehly family is also prominent in the United States, with records showing the name first arriving in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century. Here, the Stehly’s built a business and eventually spread across a number of states. Today, there are anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 Americans of Stehly descent.
No matter where the Stehly surname is found, it continues to be highly valued and respected for its long history and rich legacy around the world.
Variations of the surname Stehly
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Stehly are Stefly, Stehle, Stehli, Staehly, and Steinly. Depending on the region, these surnames can also be found in the archives under alternative variations such as Steffly, Steffli, Steffley, Steffly, Stehli, Stehlee, Stehli, Stiehly, Styhly, and Stiehl.
The surname Stehly originated in South Germanic countries, particularly in the regions now known as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Over time, other variant spellings emerged due to regional dialects and phonetic adaptations. In Switzerland, the region of St Gallen is also an origin location of the Stehly surname.
The root of this surname is a combination of the Germanic words ‘Stähl’ meaning ‘steel’ or ‘strong’ and ‘heim’ meaning ‘home’. This combination of words resulted in the formation of ‘Der Stählheim’, a locative reference to the home of a person of great strength and stability. The locative designation would then be adapted into the family surname. Over time, additional surnames derived from Stehly were established, such as Staehly which emerged from a more northern German dialect of the name, Stehle, and Styhly which emerged from a Swiss German dialect.
Surname researchers consider the Stehly surname to be a family of Germanic origin. Due to its repetition and associated variant spellings, it is one of the more common surnames throughout the Germanic-speaking regions of Europe.
Famous people with the name Stehly
- Derek Stehly: Professional soccer player currently playing for Minnesota United FC in the Major League Soccer.
- Devin Stehly: Professional soccer player, who last played for the Swansea City U-23 in the Professional Development League.
- Garth Stehly: An American actor who has appeared in numerous television series, as well as many feature films.
- Annette Stehly: An actress whose career spans 2009: present.
- JJ Stehly: An American skateboarder and professional stuntman.
- Ian Stehly: An American painter and sculptor who is known for his portraits of nature, wildlife, and landscapes.
- Nick Stehly: Nick Stehly is an American actor famous for his variety of roles in television dramas and films.
- Devin Stehly: Devin Stehly is a former professional soccer player who last played for the Swansea City U-23 in the Professional Development League.
- Lori Stehly: Lori Stehly is an American author, illustrator, and photographer.
- Gregory Stehly: Gregory Stehly is an American contemporary artist and sculptor.