Surname Steingaesser - Meaning and Origin
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Steingaesser: What does the surname Steingaesser mean?
The last name Steingaesser is a German word derived from the combination of the German words for stone and hunter. It’s likely to refer to an ancestor who hunted or collected stones as a profession or hobby. The Steingaesser family has likely lived in Germany for several centuries, suggesting that the name is more than likely of German origin.
The root of the name could also be a combination of other German words such as stein, meaning stone, and a degree of certainty and saege or saeger, meaning hunter. Thus, Steingaesser could mean that someone was a hunter of stone in the past. Alternatively, the name could be related to a location, where someone might have used stones for building purposes, such as in a quarry.
In terms of surname research, Steingaesser appears in historical documents from as early as the 1500s in various parts of Germany. The earliest documented occurrence of the name is in a church register showing two married couples whose last names were both Steingaesser in 1583 in Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. Furthermore, the earliest recognisable coat of arms for the Steingaesser family dates from 1600 and people with the same name reside in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
Today, the Steingaesser name can be found all around the world, brightly reflecting its German roots with every generation.
Order DNA origin analysisSteingaesser: Where does the name Steingaesser come from?
The last name Steingaesser is an uncommon name today, and the origin is thought to be German. There doesn't appear to be any specific geographic concentration of the name, although the greatest concentration shows up in the United States. According to a 2017 US Census, approximately 319 individuals carry the Steingaesser name. California is home to the most Steingaessers today with about 71 people, followed by Wisconsin (50) and Illinois (47). Other states with the Steingaesser name include Tennessee, Kansas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. There are likely more Steingaessers in other countries as well, such as Germany, but exact numbers are not available.
The Steingaesser surname originates from the German word "Stein," which means "stone" and "Gehser," a regional inn or guesthouse. Thus, the last name Steingaesser could mean a person from a house of stone or stone inn. Alternatively, the name may have originated from medieval trade. Back then, merchants would often end a name with their profession, thus "Stein" meaning stone and "Gehser" might have referred to a stone mason or stone worker.
The Steingaesser name is uncommon today, but it is still present and scattered across the United States. Being an uncommon last name, there may not be many people with direct relations to original Steingaesser families, but many may still carry the name through adoption or marriage.
Variations of the surname Steingaesser
Steingaesser is an uncommon and rare surname found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name Stein, derived from the German word meaning "stone." Consequently, variants and other spellings of Steingaesser include Stein, Steine, Steinberger, Steinberger, Steiner, Steinmann, and Steinweg. Alternative surnames from the same origin include Steinacker, Steinberg, Steinbrecher, Steinbruck, Steinbuch, Steinbuhl, Steinhaus, Steinkamp, Steinkopf, Steinmueller, Steinmetz, Steinmeyer, and Steinsberg.
The etymological origin of Steingaesser is believed to derive from the old German word "stag," or "stine," which essentially means someone who was a master stone mason. It might also refer to a quarry worker or a stone carver. That being said, Steingaesser may also have been derived from the old German words "steink," meaning stone, and "geis," meaning rooster, thus making the surname literal translation "stone-rooster."
The Steingaesser surname is quite rare, and given its distribution and etymological origin, many of those who bear this surname likely share a common ancestry. Although its exact genealogical history remains unknown, the surname is believed to be of German or Germanic origin, and may indicate a shared family relationship or a common ancestral home.
Famous people with the name Steingaesser
- Todd Steingaesser: An American comic writer and actor, best known for his role in the TV series American Dreams.
- Darrin Steingaesser: An American playwright, photographer, and artist. His work has been displayed in galleries and museums such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
- Arthur Steingaesser: An American think tank executive and philanthropist, he was a founding advisor of the Atlantic Council.
- Richard Steingaesser: An American zoologist and professor, he was noted for his research into the ecology of small mammals.
- Edward Steingaesser: An American lawyer and civil rights activist, he was the first to win a race discrimination case under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
- George Steingaesser– An American priest, he was a Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from 1971 to his retirement in 1980.
- Frederick Steingaesser: An American chemist, he was professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago from 1928 until 1965.
- Otto Steingaesser: An American physicist and professor, he taught physics at Princeton University from 1951 until his retirement in 1979.
- Martin Steingaesser: An American artist and professor, he was the first art professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
- Fred Steingaesser: An American photographer, cinematographer, and professor of film, he was an expert in color film development and was best known for his work in early color cinematography.