Surname Steinau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Steinau: What does the surname Steinau mean?
The last name Steinau is of German origin and is generally understood to be locative in nature. It is derived from Middle High German and literally translated means “stone meadow”.
Historically, Steinau was used as a name by families to identify ancestral homes and places of residence. In the old days, people with the same surname would often take it as a sign that they were related in some way, either biologically or by the marriage of family members. As people moved around in search of work and opportunity, the Steinau name spread across central Europe.
Steinau is quite common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is considered part of the German-speaking world. The name is often used as a prefix or a suffix, such as Steinau-Müller or Müller-Steinau, to denote different lineages or family branches. This practice still continues today, though it is much less common than it used to be.
In the United States, Steinau is a relatively rare name and is mostly found in areas with a high German-American population, such as modern-day Pennsylvania. In other parts of the world, the surname is also found in parts of South America and Africa, where it is believed to have been brought by German immigrants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Overall, Steinau is an interesting last name that has a long and complex history. Its meaning and usage may have changed over time but it continues to be associated with places of origin, family lineages, and the idea of being rooted in one’s ancestral home.
Order DNA origin analysisSteinau: Where does the name Steinau come from?
The last name Steinau can most commonly be found in Germany today. It is especially popular in the city of Kassel and the surrounding area. It is likely that the name originated from the old German word Steinweg, which means stone road.
It is believed that the name first became prominent in eastern Hesse around the 16th century. Kassel was a destination for Jewish immigration in the 17th and 18th centuries, and so the Steinau surname can be found in many Jewish families living in the area. The name was also used by many noble families in the area during this period.
The Steinau name appears frequently in records of the century old German Empire, and the family is still quite numerous in Germany even today. While this may be the most predominant area it is found in, the name is also known to appear in the United States, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries around the world.
The name Steinau is unique and has its roots in Germany’s history, and the people carrying the name today can be proud of their ancestry and the legacy of their surname.
Variations of the surname Steinau
The surname Steinau is thought to have originated in Germany, likely in the late 18th century. The spelling of the name may have been slightly altered over the years due to different dialects and spellings. The most common variations of the surname Steinau are Steynau, Steynow, Steinow, Steenaue, Steynau, Steinhau, Steinahaus, Steinauer, Stynow, Steinhauer,Steinauf and Steinoff.
Some common diminutives and nicknames of the surname Steinau include Stein, Steini, Steine, Steinew, Styni and Steenhau.
Surnames of similar origin as the Steinau surname include Steen, Steens, Stein, Steenstra, Steinert, Steenekamp, Steinhaus, and Steinbeck. These surnames are thought to have a similar ancestry to the Steinau surname, likely derived from towns that ended in “-stein” or “-stien,” such as Baden-Württemberg’s Steintal and Mühlheim am Main’s Steinhof.
Variations of the Steinau surname can be found among people of German descent who settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. For example, the Steinau surname is popular in the Palatinate region of Rhineland-Palatinate and those who settled in the United States are likely to have descended from German immigrants.
In conclusion, the surname Steinau is relatively common among Germans and those of German descent and has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin.
Famous people with the name Steinau
- Julie Steinau: American comic book artist, illustrator, and writer
- Fritz Steinau: German silent film actor
- Marc Steinau: German football manager
- Edmund Steinau: German silent film actor
- Andrew Steinau: Canadian ice hockey player
- Hilde Steinau: German non-fiction writer
- Marlise Steinau: Austrian film and television actress
- Joseph Steinau: German ornithologist
- Elizabeth Steinau: American sculptor
- Ella Steinau: German actress