Surname Stösser - Meaning and Origin
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Stösser: What does the surname Stösser mean?
The last name Stösser is an old German surname. Its root is derived from the German word “Stössen” which means “to strike” or “to thrust.” Thus, the name could have either been used to describe a person with a propensity for striking out or putting forth violent effort, or it could have been used in an occupational sense to denote a sword or dagger maker. The earliest known records of the surname come from the Palatinate town of Leimen in 1698, although its use likely predated that date.
Various unrelated families by the Stösser surname have flourished throughout Central and Eastern Europe. It is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Transylvania. Interestingly, a Hungarian branch of Stössers were divided in terms of religion, with some Protestant members residing in the United States and Canada, and others remaining in Hungary and Romania as Catholic and/or Uniate Catholics.
Today, the Stösser surname is quite scattered throughout the globe and holds a wide array of spelling variations, including Stoehsler, Sztoeszer, Stoecsler, and Stöckel. While traditionally associated with sword makers, the name can also be seen in connection to a variety of occupations reflecting the wide range of interests of its bearer's, such as shepherds, hunters, traders, and farmers.
Order DNA origin analysisStösser: Where does the name Stösser come from?
The last name Stösser is most commonly found in Germany. According to records, the name was originallydescended from the Middle High German word “Stösser” which means “a worker who cuts or strikes”.
In Germany today, it is believed that an estimated 1,650 people bear the Stösser surname. The majority of this population is scattered across the former East Germany in the states of Saxony, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. A considerable portion of the people with this surname are also found in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria.
Furthermore, Stösser is also a popular last name in some other European countries such as France and Switzerland. Its presence has been recorded in Germany as early as 1299, during the time of the Reformation.
At present, the Stössers are considered to represent one of the oldest surnames of its kind in Europe. The most renowned member of the family is believed to be Philip Stösser, who served as the mayor of Berlin during the 18th century.
And while the Stösser surname is quite common in Germany, it has also spread to other parts of the globe, such as the United States, Canada, and even Australia. However, its distribution is still largely concentrated in Germany.
Variations of the surname Stösser
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Stösser are Stoeser, Stoessel, Stössel, Stoesseler, Stösseler, Stoesselmann, Stösselmann, Stößel, Stoesselmann, Stößelmann, Stößler, Stösser, Stöößel, and Stoesser.
Stösser is an uncommon modern German origin family name derived from the dialectic German word “Stösel”, which comes from the old Germanic word “stōs”, meaning “plump” or “strong”. Additionally, it could also be derived from the German words “stossen”, “stosser”, and “Stößer”, which all mean to push or shove. The name is widely found in Germany and in other countries with German settlers.
The spelling of the Stösser surname has changed over the years, with some variations including Stoeser, Stoessel, Stössel, Stoesseler, Stösseler, Stoesselmann, Stösselmann, Stößel, Stoesselmann, Stößelmann, Stößler, Stösser, Stöößel, and Stoesser.
The name is generally believed to have been a nickname given to individuals based on their physical characteristics or behavior. There are many instances where this idea is found in contemporary Germany, where a person was nicknamed Stößer for being strong or healthy and another for briskly guiding his team of horses during carriages.
For people to distinguish between individuals who shared the same name, multiple relatives adopted the variants of it. This is why the name today can have many different spellings, although the origin is the same.
In conclusion, the variants, spellings, and surnames of Stösser are Stoeser, Stoessel, Stössel, Stoesseler, Stösseler, Stoesselmann, Stösselmann, Stößel, Stoesselmann, Stößelmann, Stößler, Stösser, Stöößel, and Stoesser. A nicknaming tradition and the need to distinguish between relatives who shared the same name is believed to be the cause of the multiple variations of this surname.
Famous people with the name Stösser
- Urs Stösser, an Austrian mystery author.
- Joseph Stösser, a German architect and sculptor.
- Leopold Stösser, a German Alpine skier.
- Jerzens Stösser, Austrian cross-country skier.
- Andreas Stösser, German press photographer.
- Kurt Stösser, a German sculptor.
- Guido Stösser, a German painter.
- Renate Stösser, an Austrian photographer.
- Alexander Stösser, a German footballer.
- Hans Stösser, a German automobile pioneer.