Surname Stief - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering the Legacy of 'Stief': An Odyssey through My iGENEA DNA test
Delving into personal genetic history can be a fascinating journey. Through my recent iGENEA DNA test results, I ventured into such an exploration, tracking back my lineage, the origin of my surname 'Stief,' and its cultural context. The fascinating discovery unfolded the historical narratives, regional origins, and cultural signatures associated with 'Stief,' providing me with a newfound understanding of my roots.
Z. Stief
read moreStief: What does the surname Stief mean?
The last name Stief is of Germanic origin, and it means one who is a “stepper” or “leaper”. This profession was common during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. During these times, ‘steppers’ were individuals who danced and participated in martial arts tournaments, making them an elite group of warriors.
The name Stief derived from the Middle High German 'stif', meaning to jump or vault and 'stieve', which means to walk with a high gait or trot. It can also mean a leader, someone of importance or a commander. Some variations of the name include Stiber, Steev, Steef, Steff, Steif, and Stiefe.
The first recorded use of the name Stief can be traced back to the 12th and 13th centuries in the regions of Wesphalia (Germany) and Thierstein (France). In the early days of the name's use, the Stief family was prominent and even served in military and civil office. Today, descendants of the Stief family can be found all over Europe and in parts of America. While the once-elite profession for which the name was named for has long since disappeared, the name lives on and is still widely used by many families.
Order DNA origin analysisStief: Where does the name Stief come from?
The last name Stief is a common German surname today, although spelling variations exist (e.g. Stiefel, Steiff, and Steifel). It has spread widely throughout German-speaking regions, including Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
In Germany, Stief is the sixth most common name by order of prevalence, with 49,010 people (roughly 0.1% of the population) sharing the surname. In Switzerland, the surname is also relatively common, ranking 12th nationally with 4,384 people. Stief is also surprisingly frequent in the United States, where it ranks 4,232nd out of the 150,000 most common American surnames.
The surname is derived from an old German word, 'stiv', which described a steep mountain path, hill, or rock. It is believed to be associated with place names, denoting a person who lived near a steep hill or mountain. There is also a theory that the name is derived from a Middle High German word, 'stievel', which means 'shoemaker'.
There is no single origin for the surname and it likely has numerous regional origins. It is likely that the families bearing this name began to migrate to different countries long before the twentieth century, but since the trend of surname popularity has been tracked for only a few generations, the exact history and origin of the surname is difficult to ascertain.
Variations of the surname Stief
The surname Stief is usually spelled as Stief, Steif, and Steff. Other variants and spellings of the surname are Staeff, Steiff, Stieff, Stiefel, Stifel, Stiepel, and Stuepfel.
The surname Stief is of German origin and literally translates to “staff”. It is derived from the German word “Stift”, which means staff or stick. It is an occupational surname that was used to refer to someone who made and sold walking sticks, and was present in different regions of Germany.
The surname is also found under various forms in other parts of the world, including Europe, the United States, and even Latin America. In the United States, Stief is more commonly spelled as Stiefel. It is also found in the Dutch version known as Steef and the Yiddish version known as Steyf.
In France, the surname is found in a slightly different form, such as Estip, Estieff, Estif, Estyff, and Estyve. In Italy, similar variations include Stifani and Estevane.
Overall, Stief is a surname with a long history and has existed in various forms over the years. The different spellings and variants of the surname are a testimony to its longevity and its presence in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Stief
- Stephanie Stiefel: Austrian singer
- Joe Stiefel: neuroscientist
- August Stiefel: German film producer
- Skip Stiefel: music producer
- Faith Stiefel: American professional ballerina
- Link Stiefel: puppeteer
- Brian Stiefel: American football player
- Art Stiefel: American television actor and personality
- Ed Stiefel: restaurateur
- Nora Stiefel: German television producer