Surname Stickler - Meaning and Origin
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Stickler: What does the surname Stickler mean?
The last name Stickler is of German origin and refers to someone who is steadfast and rigorously follows, or literal "sticks to", a set of rules or moral values. This could be interpreted literally as literally "sticking to a rule", or figuratively as someone who is somewhat inflexible in their opinions and values.
The original sense of the word comes from the Middle English word "stiklen", which has roots in the Old English and Germanic languages and means "to stay resolute" or "stand firm". This tradition was also common in medieval law codes, where rules were written in the Germanic language and literally meant to be stuck to and followed by the members of the community.
Today, the surname Stickler is usually seen as referring to someone who holds strict principles and is quite demanding. Of course, this can be a positive trait to have in the right context; a leader or project manager with a Stickler surname might be respected for their responsibility and strive for excellence. On the other hand, they may also be seen as overly rigid, someone unwilling to compromise or listen to others.
Overall, the last name Stickler is associated with someone who remains devoted to their principles and is adamant in following rules. Whether this is a positive or negative trait depends on the individual and the context of their situation.
Order DNA origin analysisStickler: Where does the name Stickler come from?
In the United States, the last name Stickler is most common in Virginia, but it is also found in other parts of the country. According to the Social Security Administration, Stickler was the 7,423rd most-common name in the United States in 2019. Stickler is especially popular in rural and small-town areas. The surname Stickler appears to have German or Swiss roots and is also widely seen in other parts of the world, including parts of Europe and Australia. In Belgium, Stickler was the 90th most-common surname in 2018. In Austria, Stickler was the 79th most-common surname in 2017.
Overall, Stickler is a fairly uncommon name, but it has been around for centuries and it appears to be slowly increasing in popularity both in the United States and in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Stickler
Stickler is a surname derived from Middle High German terms such as “Stigeler” or “Stickler” which referred to a “wrestler” or a “fighter”. The name often comes with a variety of different spellings and is often found with spelling variations such as Stegler, Steckler, Sticker, Styckler, Shtickler, Stickly, Stocker, Stickel, Stichell, Stickley and Stackle.
The surname is fairly common throughout Europe. It is most popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and can be found in other countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland and the United States. The surname is also fairly common among Ashkenazi Jews.
Variants of the surname Stickler include Stegler, Stocker, Stickel, Steckler, and Stickly. Other variants with slightly different spellings which are likely to be of the same origin include Stecker, Stegeler, Steigeler, Steigler, and Steiglitz.
The surname is sometimes seen as a diminutive form of the given name Stefan or Steven. For example, someone named Stephen might take on the surname Stickler as a diminutive of his given name. Another variant of the surname has emerged, which is Sticklerd, believed to be an English form of the German surname.
Finally, the surname is sometimes seen as a variant of the Greek or Turkish name Stegler, which is believed to have been derived from the same root as the Middle High German term “Stigeler”. In this case, the surname would be an anglicized version of a foreign name that has been adapted to an English-speaking location.
Famous people with the name Stickler
- Ronald Stickler: an American actor, producer, and narrator.
- Heather Stickler: an American actress.
- Richard Stickler: a former administrator of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
- Emil Stickler: an American engineer and inventor.
- Steve Stickler: an internationally recognized speaker and author on personal development and leadership.
- Clare Stickler: a British astronomer.
- Kurt Stickler: an Austrian former ski jumper.
- William Stickler: an American composer.
- Jürgen Stickler: a German rower.
- Stanislav Stickler: a Czech cross country skier.