Surname Steuermann - Meaning and Origin
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Steuermann: What does the surname Steuermann mean?
The last name Steuermann is of German origin and is a variation on the German word for helmsman or steersman, which is “Steuermann”. The name literally means “man who steers or pilots” and it likely refers to an ancestor who was a navigator or sailor who steered ships. It has also been anglicized as Steermann, Sturman, and Sturmann, all of which are variations of the original German.
Steuermann was a common occupational surname in Germany. People who first took on the last name likely had some type of seafaring job in mind. Those who adopted the name could have been captains, helmsmen, pilots, or navigators. Given that it is believed that Steuermann has its roots in maritime voyages, people with this last name likely had a good measure of success in navigating ships and their passengers in and out of ports.
In current times, the name Steuermann is still fairly common throughout Germany, but it is also found among families of German ancestry around the world, particularly in North America and Australia. Although the family name is no longer associated with actual sailing vessels, the connotation of navigational skill and success remains with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisSteuermann: Where does the name Steuermann come from?
The last name Steuermann is primarily found in Germany, with several thousand people throughout the country sharing the surname. It is also commonly seen in other European countries where German immigrants have settled, such as the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria. As German emigration spread throughout the world, the moniker Steuermann has become less localized and can be found in nearly every continent around the globe.
In Germany, the name is believed to come from the Middle High German words “steuerman” and “man”, which means “steersman” and “man”, respectively. The word likely referred to the profession of a boat’s helmsman - a person responsible for navigating a boat through difficult waters or currents, a skill of which some people in Germany are still proud.
Steuer- prefix names were common among people in the early part of the 20th and the late 19th century; at the time, the steuerman was a respected profession, as navigation was necessary for trade, agriculture, and other commercial activities. The Steuermann last name could also be used in an occupational context to designate a person as a farmer or a taxman.
Although the last name is not especially common outside of German-speaking areas, some people who bear the Steuermann name have risen to prominence in various professions. In the world of sailing and competitive rowing, for example, there are several Steuermanns who have achieved success in their careers. German architect Emil Steuermann also designed many notable buildings in Berlin during the mid-late 19th century.
Variations of the surname Steuermann
The surname Steuermann is a German toponymic name derived from the word Steuer, which means ‘a helmsman’. It is a variation of the name Steuer and has several variants and spellings that include Steuermann, Stuerman, Stuermann, Stuermer, Stuerman, Stefaner, Steffener, Steffen, Steffman, Stofer, Stefersen and many more.
These variations are most common in German and Austrian regions. In some cases, the Steuermann surname is also spelled as Trekman or Trekmann, which usually occurs in Dutch-speaking states. The variant Spellman is also found in some regions of Germany and Switzerland.
The Steuermann surname also has numerous variants in other parts of the world, such as in the Czech Republic, where it is known as Stourman, and in Russia, where it is known as Stemann. In the United States it is spelled as Steerman, Stamen and Stufferman, and in the United Kingdom it is spelled as Steeman and Steemann.
The Steuermann surname is also found in variants such as Susman and Sussmann, which are of Jewish origin. Similarly, there is a Dutch surname known as Steurman, which has been found among members of the South African Jewish community.
Overall, the Steuermann surname has numerous variants and spellings worldwide and it is likely that some of these variants are derived from local dialects.
Famous people with the name Steuermann
- Eduard Steuermann (1892: 1964), German pianist and composer
- Rhoda Steuermann (1911: 1984), American illustrator
- Paul Steuermann (1920: 2000), German entrepreneur
- Julius Steuermann (1901: 1991), Polish-German pianist and musicologist
- Grete Steuermann (1902: 1991), German actor
- Hans Steuermann (1901: 1984), German aviator and entrepreneur
- Heinz Steuermann (1902: 1993), German editor and writer
- Rudolf Steuermann (1881: 1957), Czech-German composer
- Ulla Steuermann (born 1946), German theater administrator
- Jonathan Steuermann (born 1987), Austrian football midfielder