Surname Stoewer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Stoewer: What does the surname Stoewer mean?
The last name Stoewer is a German last name derived from the Middle Low German "Stower" or "Stowert" meaning a small dwelling or hut. The name is thought to have meant that the person with the name was from a small settlement or a small hut. The surname likely originated in East Germany, where many Germanic tribes settled in the Middle Ages.
The Stoewer family has been in Germany for centuries. During that time, they have been entrepreneurs and farmers. A legendary figure from the Stoewer family is Adolf Stoewer, an engineer, mechanical specialist, and founder of the automobile manufacturer Stoewer Motorwerke. He started a big industry in bicycles production and eventually started producing motorwagen in 1899. His company was later controlled by the German military, producing motor vehicles, weapons, and other equipment for the German army.
The Stoewer name is also well known in the fields of medicine and education. In 1792, Henry August Stoewer, a German-born medical doctor and educator, established the first college-preparatory school in Hamburg. Johannes Stoewer, an 18th century physician, was among the first to use carbon dioxide to treat obstetric hemorrhage and childbirth shock.
In modern times, many members of the Stoewer family are still involved in business and engineering, as well as other areas like medicine, education, and law. Today, the Stoewer surname is a symbol of German culture and tradition, and a testament to its generations of hard-working families.
Order DNA origin analysisStoewer: Where does the name Stoewer come from?
The last name Stoewer is commonly found today in Germany, especially in the eastern part of the country. It is most concentrated in the state of Brandenburg, where it ranks as one of the top 150 surnames. The name is also common across the northern and northwestern parts of Germany, including the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, and Hanover. The name is also found in parts of Poland, likely due to migration from Germany.
Stoewer is likely from the German name "Stöwer", which means "tamer" or "controller". It can also be a variant of the German word "Storch" which means "stork", suggesting an ancestor who lived near a stork nesting ground. The oldest record of the name was 1244 in a document describing a peasant from Hessen, Germany.
It is believed that the name is derived from two distinct, but connected sources. One was an ancient village in the Balts region of Lithuania, which was discovered by archeological excavations in the1970s. The other source is a place called "Stoewer" which is located between Hamburg and Lüneburg in southern Germany.
The Stoewer family was originally located in the German region of Upper Lusatia in the region of Brandenburg. They moved into Brandenburg during the 12th century.
Today, the name Stoewer is not only common in Germany, but can also be found in some parts of the United States, such as New York, Washington, and Texas.
Variations of the surname Stoewer
The surname Stoewer is a variation of the German surname Stöwer, Stoeber, Stowar, or Stower. It is of Germanic origin meaning either “one who fights with a spear” or “one who stamps or beats”. The name can also be found in other countries, such as the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as an occupational surname derived from the Old Germanic word “Stauwar”.
In the German-speaking countries, it is primarily found as Stöwer, Schtöwer, or Schtöwerin, which is the feminine version of the surname. The common spelling variant in the United States is Stoewer, whereas in the Netherlands, it could be primarily found as Stoower, Stuwer, and sometimes even as Struwer.
Additionally, different alternative spellings of Stöwer are commonly found amongst modern families who immigrated to the United States in the 19th or 20th century, such as Stower, Stowar, Stauer, Shoewer, and Shower.
In Luxembourg, Stöwer is often found under the spelling Stoever. Another variation of the surname that can be found in Luxembourg is Steuer.
Finally, there are also alternative spellings of Stöwer that are found in Austria, such as Stuewer, Stiewer, Stuer, Stöver, and Stüwer.
Famous people with the name Stoewer
- Karl Stoewer: Karl Stoewer was a German industrialist who founded the manufacturing company Stoewer in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin in Poland) in 1890. He led the company to become one of the largest mechanical engineering companies in Germany.
- Eugen Stoewer: Eugen Stoewer was an early 20th century German automobile manufacturer and founder of the Stoewer automobile company. The Stoewer cars enjoyed considerable success in the early motor racing years in Germany for some time.
- Erwin Stoewer: Erwin Stoewer was a racing driver from Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland). He is best known for his successes in the early years of auto racing, including the first win for a Stoewer vehicle at the 1899 German automobile race.
- Hans Stoewer: Hans Stoewer was a German athlete who won the bronze medal in the decathlon at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
- William Stoewer: William Stoewer was a pioneering auto racing driver from Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin in Poland). He represented Stoewer cars in several early motor competitions, with several victories.
- Willy Stoewer: Willy Stoewer was a German Luftwaffe officer in World War II and the recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
- Gerhard Stoewer: Gerhard Stoewer was a German businessman and manufacturer who ran the Stoewer automotive company from 1937 to 1945. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, Hans Joachim Beyer.
- Ludwig Stoewer: Ludwig Stoewer was a German engineer and industrialist who served as the President of the German manufacturer Stoewer AG from 1950 to 1953.