Surname Terstegge - Meaning and Origin

Terstegge: What does the surname Terstegge mean?

The surname Terstegge is an occupational name derived from the German word ‘tersteeg’, which refers to a cart driver. The surname therefore likely originated from someone who made a living as a cart driver or owned a cart. It likely denotes someone who was a free tenant, rather than a vassal of the local lord, unlike other workers such as millers and bakers.

The Terstegge surname typically found in Germany, especially in the northwestern region of the country. It is also found in the Netherlands and the United States. However, it is not an especially common surname in either country. The highest concentration of people with this surname is found in Germany, with smaller pockets in the Netherlands and the United States.

The surname Terstegge typically has an association with the small German towns of Köln and Krefeld. This suggests that those bearing the Terstegge surname likely migrated from these towns, or came from families who started there.

For those with the Terstegge surname, the roots of their family go back to a time when the world was quite different. They carry the name of those who dedicated their lives to working as cart drivers, and can take pride in the strong work ethic and industriousness that runs through their families.

Terstegge: Where does the name Terstegge come from?

The surname Terstegge is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of the world. It is most common in the German states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia as well as the German-speaking region of Belgian-controlled Luxembourg. It is also quite prevalent in the Netherlands, so much so that some Dutch authorities consider it one of the country’s main surnames.

The Terstegge family name likely originated in Germany and was most commonly used in regions which were predominantly West Germanic in language and culture. The root of the surname is old high German and means “terra” (earth) and “stagge” (sword), suggesting that the original bearer of the name was a knowledgeable swordsman.

In modern times, Terstegge is still largely concentrated in the German-speaking regions and countries previously mentioned. It is also found in countries with large German-speaking immigrant populations, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, indicating the family’s diaspora.

In Germany, most members of the Terstegge family trace their roots back to earlier parts of the 1800s, with documented references confirmed as early as 1730. Other branches of the same family likely began dispersing around the same time or shortly thereafter, leading to the spread of the surname around the world.

The Terstegge name, however, is unmistakably German in origin, and the vast majority of its bearers today would be found in German-speaking countries and regions.

Variations of the surname Terstegge

The surname Terstegge is a family name primarily found in the Netherlands and Germany. It is generally believed to have originated in a region of the Netherlands called ‘Terschelling’ which means ‘Holy Island’. The most common variants of the name Terstegge include Terschelling, Ter Schelling, Ter Schilling and Ter Schille.

In some places in the Netherlands, the spelling of this name is often changed, particularly into Ter Schille or Ter Schelling. In Germany, the names are typically spelled either as Terstegge or as Thielsch. Some of these spellings might have been adopted for perceived ‘improvement in sound’ or simply to distinguish one family from one another.

Terstegge is a relatively rare surname but there are a few other surnames which are closely related. These include Thielsch, Terning, Thelling and Thesing. All these surnames derive from the island of Terschelling and the people living near it. There are also variations of the surname with regional spellings such as Ter Stegge, Tersteggen and Terstegges.

Generally speaking, this surname has remained relatively unchanged throughout history, with only minor variations in spelling. It is likely that the most commonly used spelling of Terstegge today is somewhat similar to the original Dutch spelling of the name.

Famous people with the name Terstegge

• Stephan Terstegge: Stephan Terstegge is a German composer, music producer, speaker and event supervisor. He is mainly known for his compositions in the genres of instrumental and electronic music, as well as his collaborations with other well known artists.
• Ligetha Terstegge: Ligetha Terstegge is a Dutch visual artist, sculptor and painter. She is best known for her work in abstract modern art and sculpture, inspired by the landscapes and people of her homeland.
• Wolfgang Terstegge: Wolfgang Terstegge is an Austrian businessman, banker and entrepreneur. He is the former chairman of the management board of Raiffeisenbank International, one of Austria’s largest banks.
• Matthias Terstegge: Matthias Terstegge is a German sports journalist and author. He is an expert in football and works for several media companies, as well as writing football books.
• Hans Terstegge: Hans Terstegge is a German former professional football player. He played for multiple teams including Rot-Weiss Oberhausen, Hertha BSC, and Preußen Münster, amongst others.
• Henning Terstegge: Henning Terstegge is a German prosecutor and politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). He served as a Member of the Bundestag from 1998 to 2008, representing the constituency of Steinfurt.
• Gerd Terstegge: Gerd Terstegge is a former German footballer. He played for several teams, including FC Schalke 04, Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Alemannia Aachen, amongst others.

Other surnames

TerstegeTerstegen