Surname Steltzner - Meaning and Origin
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Steltzner: What does the surname Steltzner mean?
The last name Steltzner is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname, likely derived from the German name “Stelzner” or “Stelzen”. The literal meaning of both of these names is "stilt walker," referring to performers who donned stilts and performed feats of balance such as juggling, acrobatics, and tumbling. The name may also indicate that the original bearer of the name was a professional stilt-maker.
The surname Steltzner is most commonly found in German-speaking areas, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Records of the name appear as early as the 16th century. Among the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Gottfried Steltzenreiner, a 16th century Nuremberg priest.
The Steltzner surname is also found in the United States, where it has been passed down through the descendants of German immigrants who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the Steltzner surname is common among many different cultures, making up a diverse population of individuals who trace their history back to one medieval German ancestor. While different branches of the family tree may have taken on different cultural practices and lived in different parts of the world, they all share a common name and likely share a common ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisSteltzner: Where does the name Steltzner come from?
The last name Steltzner is mainly associated with the country of Germany and its surrounding countries. The town of Steltze in Northern Germany is believed to be the source of the Steltzner surname. It is thought that the original Steltzner family moved from Steltze over time to other parts of Germany and the surrounding countries.
As of 2019, the last name Steltzner is most common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany. However, the surname is also found in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and France. In the United States, the surname can be found in certain states that experienced a large influx of German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These include states like Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
The Steltzner family can also be traced to Latin American countries, particularly those that practiced the immigration policies of the São Paulo-Minas Path during the 19th century. This immigration route brought large numbers of European immigrants to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is likely that the Steltzner surname can be found in these countries as well.
Overall, the last name Steltzner is mainly associated with Germany and its neighboring countries, but it can also be found in Europe, the United States, and Latin American countries.
Variations of the surname Steltzner
The surname Steltzner has seen many variations and spellings over time, including Stelzner, Steltz, Steltzer and Steltzman. It originally derives from the Middle High German term ‘stelz’, meaning ‘stalwart’ or ‘bold’.
The various spellings and surnames of Steltzner are common variations depending on the region where it has been used. Before the standardisation of spellings in the late 19th century, people often changed the spelling of their family name according to their local dialect or language.
In some regions, young people adopted the surname Schiltz or Schiltzer, derived from a dialect form of ‘Stelzner’. In the United States, some Steltzners chose to Americanise their surname and spell it Stultz. Likewise, some adopted the variation Schultz, either as a form of embracing the country’s language or in an effort to fit in with the Anglo-Saxon-descended majority.
Due to migration and marriage, the surname has become relatively widespread. Its variants can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States and other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Steltzner
- Mark Steltzner: an American aerospace engineer, best known for developing the Curiosity rover's sky crane landing system.
- Megan Steltzner: the American contestant of "The Bachelor"
- Colin Steltzner: a professional actor and writer known for his work in "The Glass Castle".
- Christina Steltzner: a Swedish figure skater.
- Kurt Steltzner: an American professional golfer.
- Jens Steltzner: a German photographer.
- Stephan Steltzner: an Austrian rock and jazz guitarist.
- Dan Steltzner: a Minnesota-based environmental advocate and director of the Indigenous Environmental Network.
- John Steltzner: a former professional American basketball player.
- Tracy Steltzner: an actress and casting director known for "The Work and the Glory".