Surname Stehr - Meaning and Origin
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Stehr: What does the surname Stehr mean?
The last name Stehr is a German name that translates to "steward." Historically, the name may have been given to a person whose job it was to oversee the management of land, property, or other assets for someone else, usually a wealthy or powerful individual. It likely originated as a job title more than a surname, with the title then becoming a family name over time.
The Stehr name may also be related to the Middle High German word "stehre," which translates to a "master unable to read or write." This is an indication that some of the original bearers of the surname may have been illiterate.
The Stehr name is common in Germany, both in its home in the North Rhine-Westphalia region and elsewhere, as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands. The name is relatively rare in the United States, but can be found among the German-American population of Pennsylvania and other states with large German-American populations.
Overall, the Stehr last name originally referred to a person in a position of responsibility or authority, likely involving the management of land or other assets. It also has a strong presence in German-speaking areas, where it is still a respected name today.
Order DNA origin analysisStehr: Where does the name Stehr come from?
The last name Stehr is an old German name, but today it is most commonly found in North America. In the United States, the last name is found mainly in the midwestern states, particularly in Ohio and Indiana, where many German immigrants and their descendants settled during the 1800s and early 1900s. It is also found in British Columbia, Canada, being among the most common surnames in some areas.
In Germany, the last name Stehr is still quite common, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The name can also be found in small numbers in Denmark, Denmark-Norway, and the Netherlands.
Stehrs have been among the earliest settlers of many regions in the United States and Canada. The surname is generally thought to be of Germanic origin and many Stehrs today trace their ancestry to Germany or the former territories of the Holy Roman Empire. The root word for the surname is stahr, meaning "steed", and was used as a personal name or as a nickname for someone well-known for their horsemanship.
Today, the last name Stehr is still found in several countries around the world and is still a popular choice for naming children in many parts of North America. It is also popular in Germany and is still widely used among the descendants of German immigrants in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Stehr
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Stehr can vary considerably, depending on the country or region in which the surname is found. For example, in Germany and Austria, the surname can take the form of "Steher", "Stähr" or "Steehrer", whereas in other countries around the world, spellings such as "Staar" or "Staer" are common.
In Scandinavia, the surname often appears as "Staer" or "Staar", while in Eastern Europe the surname is sometimes written as "Staar" or "Stahar". In addition, due to emigration to different countries, variants such as "Stahr" or "Stahre" can sometimes be found.
In the United States, spelling variations of the same origin for the surname Stehr can take the form "Staar", "Stahr", "Stear" or "Steer". Additionally, due to the influence of other cultures or dialects, variations such as "Star", "Stair", "Stouhr", "Struhr" or "Stower" have also been reported.
In addition to the various spelling variations, the surname Stehr has been associated with different surnames of the same origin in different countries. In Czech republic, for instance, the surname "Stechov" is believed to be of the same origin as "Stehr". In Switzerland, the names "Stehelin" and "Stehlmann" are thought to be related to the surname Stehr. In Slovenia, the surname "Stehle" or "Steichen" is derived from the same root as the surname Stehr.
Finally, in France, the surname "Stehinger" is believed to be of the same origin as the surname Stehr, due to the presence of Germanic immigrants in the area.
Famous people with the name Stehr
- Dieter Stehr: former German footballer and assistant coach.
- John Stehr: an American journalist, television news anchor, and news editor.
- Karl Stehr: a German field marshal in World War I.
- Susan Stehr: U.S. poet, short story writer, essayist, novelist, and playwright.
- Edgar Stehr: a German author, poet, and journalist.
- Christopher Stehr: an American actor, director, painter, and writer.
- Andrew Stehr: an American lawyer, entrepreneur, and investor.
- John J Stehr: an American Major General in the Ohio National Guard.
- Maynard Stehr: former Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
- Hubert Stehr: a German Field Marshal in World War II.