Surname Steineker - Meaning and Origin

Steineker: What does the surname Steineker mean?

The last name Steineker is an occupational surname meaning “stonecutter” in German. It is derived from the Middle High German words stein meaning “stone” and kēr meaning “cutter”. This surname was used to denote someone in the stonecutting profession or a stone mason. It is thought that this surname was first used in the early Middle Ages.

The Steineker name is found not only in Germany, but also in surrounding countries such as Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It is believed that the Steinekrs emigrated from Germany in large numbers during the 16th and 17th centuries when religious and political upheavals expressed through the Thirty Years War caused massive disruption and displacement of people.

Today, the Steineker name is most commonly found in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, and is listed as one of the most historically important German surnames by the Academy of German Family Names. It is likely that the Steinekers were most active in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands due to these countries having many stone building structures and gothic churches, which can still be found today.

In modern times, the Steineker name is still fairly common in German-speaking countries, although not particularly widespread.

Steineker: Where does the name Steineker come from?

The last name Steineker is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a relatively rare name, but there are a few hundred Steineker families living in Germany and in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland.

The origin of the name is likely Germanic and derived from the Middle High German word "steineker", which means “stone digger” or “one who digs stones.” Historians believe the name originally denoted a person who performed some form of stone work – possibly a quarryman or stone mason. Today, the last name Steineker is still associated with stone working in some parts of Germany.

The surname Steineker is most common in the southern part of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and parts of Saxony. This is likely due to the fact that the region was a former duchy of the Kingdoms of Germany and was heavily involved in the stone industry for centuries. Today, the name is still fairly common in Bavaria and is slowly spreading to other parts of Germany and neighboring countries.

Outside of Germany, Steineker is not a particularly common surname. There are only limited numbers of Steinekers living in the United States, Canada, and Australia. While the name might not be instantly recognizable in many countries, it still caries a proud history and may even become more common in the years to come.

Variations of the surname Steineker

The surname Steineker is of German origin and may have derived from a habitation name or a topographic name, most likely denoting a person who lived or worked near a stone quarry. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Steinacker, Steinacker, Steinacker, Steincke, Steinigke, Steiniger, Steiniker, Sternecker, Sterneck, Steinegger, Stienener, Stieniger, Stieniker, Stienkinger, Steinkopf, Steinwagner, Steinwender, Steinhaus, Steinbruch, Steingasser, Steinacher, Steinhilber, Steinbrecher, and Steiner. It is also common for the spelling of the name to change over generations, such as Steinacker to Steineker.

The surname is mostly seen in Germany and Austria, including the northwest region of Baden-Württemberg. It is rare in other areas, but can also be found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe. In the United States, the main concentrations of the surname Steineker are found in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Indiana, which is believed to be the result of emigration from Germany and Austria in the mid 1800s.

The Steineker surname is also seen as a variation of the name Steinacker, which can be found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. Variations of the name Steinacker include Steinakker, Steinhacker, Steinäcker, and Steingäcker. It is believed that these variations are caused by minor differences in dialect and pronunciation between different regions of Germany. Additionally, visitors from other countries could have changed the spelling of the name when documenting it in the country of their origin.

In summary, the surname Steineker may have derived from habitation or topographic names. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Steinacker, Steinacker, Steinacker, Steincke, Steinigke, Steiniger, Steiniker, Sternecker, Sterneck, Steinegger, Stienener, Stieniger, Stieniker, Stienkinger, Steinkopf, Steinwagner, Steinwender, Steinhaus, Steinbruch, Steingasser, Steinacher, Steinhilber, Steinbrecher, and Steiner. The name is mostly found in Germany and Austria, as well as the United States, Canada, and some other parts of Europe. Variations of the name Steinacker, which is sometimes seen as a variation of the name Steineker, include Steinakker, Steinhacker, Steinäcker, and Steingäcker.

Famous people with the name Steineker

• Robert Steineker: Businessman and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management
• Erwin Steineker: German WWI flying ace
• Jim Steineker- American computer scientist and entrepreneur
• Bill Steineker- American football player
• Friedrich Steineker: German architect
• Brian Steineker: Professional ice hockey player
• Paul Steineker: German cyclist
• Corporal Steineker: WWI veteran buried at the Cambrai British Cemetery, Barastre
• Tony Steineker: American auto racing driver
• Kingsley Steineker: American actor and television personality.

Other surnames

Steineke