Surname Steigleder - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Steigleder: What does the surname Steigleder mean?
The German surname Steigleder is derived from the words “Stiege,” meaning “staircase,” and “leder,” meaning “leather.” In ancient German culture, it was a custom for craftsmen to create personalized leather signs or “lederzeichens” to hang outsides of their shops or workshops for passing customers to easily identify their locations. In this instance, a leather stair sign could be found outside of a workshop that specialized in crafting staircases or stair parts.
Alternately, the surname Steigleder could also be a nickname for someone who was especially skilled at navigating stairs. Whether he was known for his great balance and agility while ascending and descending stairs or perhaps their ability to run up and down them faster than any of their peers, there is a good chance that this nickname likely had an underlying admiration for the skill.
Whatever the original origin story, it's clear that the Steigleder surname is tied to some form of staircase-related skill. Given its German heritage, the name may still be commonly found throughout Germany and surrounding countries, though the prevalence of Steigleders in other countries will likely depend on the family’s immigration history.
Order DNA origin analysisSteigleder: Where does the name Steigleder come from?
The last name Steigleder is a German surname with some distribution throughout Germany, predominantly in the northern regions. Steigleder originally comes from the Middle High German word “stegeltöre”, meaning “community of stables”. It is believed that the Steigleder family originates from a medieval farming community.
The surname Steigleder is common today in countries in the German diaspora, such as Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and parts of the Scandinavian countries. It is also found among German and Austrian immigrants in the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) of the German-language region shows Steigleder to be the 79th most common German surname. It is most common in the current region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in the northeast of Germany, and also in the historic Prussian provinces around Berlin. In Austria, the Steigleder surname is ranked 45th in popularity and is most common in Vienna.
Although the Steigleder surname is less common in Germany today, the Steigleder family can trace its history back several hundred years to an ancient German farming community. As noted above, Steigleder is present in several German-speaking diaspora countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
Variations of the surname Steigleder
The Steigleder surname has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variations include Steiglehner, Steigleman, Steigleuter, Stiegler, Steigmeier, Steigmeyer, Steiglederer, Steigner, and Steigeler. Each of these variations can be linked back to the root German word “Steig” which means “steps,” or “mountain path.”
The Steigleder surname can be found in its earliest forms as far back as the Middle Ages, in both Germany and Austria. The variations of the surname were likely created over time due to various migrations, or as a result of the family members taking the name of the location they were living in. For example, a family that moved from Lower Austria to Upper Austria may have taken the surname Steigleuthe to reflect their new home. As time passed, the surname likely changed yet again in order to better reflect the local dialect(s).
It is likely that those with the Steigleder surname share a common heritage, likely linked to an ancestor who lived in and/or traveled through the German and Austrian region during the Middle Ages. In terms of spelling variations, the -er ending of Steigleder is a common German suffix, used to indicate a “son of,” which likely reflects the surname’s paternal lineage. Thus, it is likely that all Steigled- named individuals are ultimately connected.
Famous people with the name Steigleder
- William Steigleder: The decorated German World War I fighter ace who was credited with shooting down 28 Allied planes.
- Elroy Steigleder: An American skydiver who was hired as the chief instructor of the United States Army Airborne School in 1943.
- Ernst Steigleder: A German sound engineer and inventor who was known for his acoustic work.
- Christian Steigleder: A German pianist and composer of contemporary classical music.
- Hans Steigleder: The first German to become a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1897.
- Peter Steigleder: A German entrepreneur and investor who has been involved in various startups.
- Roger Steigleder: The only World War I Flying Ace of Swiss descent.
- August Steigleder: The former German Minister of War who served under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
- Karl Steigleder: The German theologian and New Testament scholar.
- Johannes Steigleder: The German philosopher and theologian who wrote several works on religion and philosophy.