Surname Steigmeyer - Meaning and Origin

Steigmeyer: What does the surname Steigmeyer mean?

The last name Steigmeyer is a German name derived from the Middle High German word “steig”, meaning “mountain”, and “meier”, meaning “mayor” or “steward”. This surname was given to people who lived or held office near a mountain, most likely a castle situated upon a mountain. The Steigmeyer family likely had a history of overseeing these castles, and over time evolved into a distinct surname.

Most of the time, the surname Steigmeyer was used to indicate an affiliation with a specific mountain or fortress. It could be a way of marking a person as the head of a local municipality, or a way to tie an individual to a certain area or parcel of land near a mountain. It could also have indicated a social or economic status associated with overseeing such a castle.

Though the surname is relatively uncommon, its roots give an indication of the family's origins and areas where the family has lived. Records show that many families with this surname resided in Germany and nearby Austria in the Middle Ages, and the surname is still present in those areas.

Regardless of the exact origin of the name, Steigmeyer families today may take comfort in the fact that their surname is steeped in history and represents a long lineage of stewards and mayors of castles and mountains.

Steigmeyer: Where does the name Steigmeyer come from?

The last name Steigmeyer is most commonly found in Europe. It originated in Germany, where it is still one of the most-used surnames in some parts of the country. It has also spread to other European countries, such as Austria, the Czech Republic, France, and the Netherlands.

In North America, Steigmeyer is much less common, though there are some individuals with the last name. Most of these individuals likely descended from European immigrants. In fact, the United States Census Bureau from 1890-1930 recorded Steigmeyer as the surname of over 100 Americans.

In general, the Steigmeyer surname is most commonly found in Bavaria, a province of southern Germany. It is the 635th most common last name in Germany, and the 1,670th most common last name in Austria.

The Steigmeyer name has likely been around for centuries, though its precise origin is not known. Some speculate that it is derived from a German compound of steig (“mountain”) and meier (“mayor”) and means “mountain mayor.” Whatever its origin, the name Steigmeyer remains in much of Europe today.

Variations of the surname Steigmeyer

The surname Steigmeyer is a German name with several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants include Steigemeyer, Steigmeijer and Steigmeyer. In addition, variants with a "t" such as Steigtmeyer, Steigtmeijer and Steigttmeyer can also be found.

The spelling Steigmeyer is the most commonly used variant. It derives from the Old German ‘stig’ meaning ‘path’ and ‘majar’ meaning ‘meadow’. The combination of the two words translates to ‘meadow path.’ This suggests that the original bearer of the surname had a home or land near a meadow path.

The surname is also commonly found in the Netherlands, where the spelling Steigmeijer is most commonly used. The Dutch version of the name translates to ‘meadow meadow’, indicating that the original bearer of this name may have lived near more than one meadow.

Many other spellings of Steigmeyer can also be found, such as Stegemeyer, Stegmeyer, Stegemeyer, Stegemeyers, etc. as well as several other variants of the name, including Steiggemeyer, Steigemeier, Stiegemeier and many more. All of these variations are likely derived from the original spelling of Steigmeyer.

Surnames such as Eliot, Eliott, Ellwood, Allwood, Hallwood and Ellott have been recorded as being variants of the same origin as Steigmeyer.

The current version of this surname is found primarily in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. However, variations of Steigmeyer and the other variants of the same origin can also be found in countries in the United States, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Steigmeyer

• Fritz Steigmeyer (1857-1921), Austrian actor
• Carl August Steigmeyer (1830-1903), German composer
• Johannes Steigmeyer (1891-1969), German composer
• Erwin Steigmeyer (born 1940), German television and film actor
• Heidi Steigmeyer (born 1956), German actress
• Aaron Steigmeyer (born 1986), American football player
• Celeste Steigmeyer (born 1993), American professional dancer
• Steve Steigmeyer (born 1958), American former professional basketball player
• Bill Steigmeyer, American college baseball coach
• Thomas Steigmeyer (born 1994), German professional football player

Other surnames

Steigmeier