Surname Höhensteiger - Meaning and Origin
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Höhensteiger: What does the surname Höhensteiger mean?
The last name Höhensteiger is a German topographic surname, indicating an ancestral connection to a place known for its height or elevation. This surname is derived from the German nouns “Höhe” and “Steiger”, meaning “height” and “staircase” respectively. It is believed that some people with this surname originated near a steep staircase in the side of a mountain, hill, or other large elevation.
Recorded in Germany since around 1300, this surname is no longer in use as a name for a inhabited locality, however regional names still remain. Bearing this surname is mainly restricted to the former region of Kenswig-Holstein, where it is recorded in seven different varieties or spellings, such as von Höhensteiger, Höhensteger, and Höhenstegger.
This rare and interesting name is found among the German Lutherans who were among the first European settlers in the state of Pennsylvania, during the 18th century. Today, people with this name can be found all over the world, but primarily in Germany and surrounding countries.
Order DNA origin analysisHöhensteiger: Where does the name Höhensteiger come from?
The last name Höhensteiger, or Hehensteiger, is a fairly uncommon name today. It is most likely of German origin, and is likely derived from the noun “Höhe” which means height, and “Steiger” which is the German word for a person or structure that is used to climb something, often to a great height.
The last name is not widespread today, as it is most commonly found in northern Germany, particularly around the region of Hamburg. In Hamburg, the last name is fairly common, with records of over two thousand individuals bearing the name. In the greater German region, there are likely fewer than five thousand individuals with the last name.
In the United States, the last name is found primarily in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, each containing several hundred individuals who identify as ‘Höhensteiger’. It is thought that the last name migrated to the US during the 19th century, with German-Americans settling down and giving their offspring the Höhensteiger last name.
In conclusion, the last name Höhensteiger is a German surname originating in northern Germany, which today is primarily found in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, in the United States. The surname is not overly common, with few records of its prevalence worldwide.
Variations of the surname Höhensteiger
The surname Höhensteiger is derived from the German word “Höhen”, which translates to “height”; hence, it literally means “climber of heights”. The variant spellings of this surname include Hohensteiger, Hohensteigar, Hohensteig and Hohenstieg.
Other surnames with the same etymological origin include Hohenstein, Hohenzoll and Hohenberg.
“Hohen” is a German prefix that is derived from the Latin “aulicus”, which means “dweller on the height”. Hence, the surnames of the same origin include Aulik, Aulicheva and Auliches.
It is also possible to find surnames with suffixes related to the word “height”, such as Hohenhausen, Hohenbergen, Hohenstadt, Hohenstaat, Hohenheister, Hohenfels, Hohenhaus and Hohenheide.
Some other surnames with the same origin include Hohenstrasse, Hohengerland, Hohenrausch, Hohenbrink, Hohenbarth, Hohenwald, Hoheneder.
The surnames are mostly found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but may also spread to other countries in the course of time.
Famous people with the name Höhensteiger
- Matti Höhensteiger: Finnish artist best known for his sketches of houses and landscapes
- Johanna Höhensteiger: Swiss novelist who wrote under the pen name of STORM
- Christof Höhensteiger: Abbot of the Swiss Monestary of Engelberg
- Ernst Höhensteiger: Reigning Olympic champion ski-jumper and several-time World Cup winner
- Gerlinde Höhensteiger: Swiss track and field athlete
- Leo Höhensteiger: Swiss actor and filmmaker
- Paula Höhensteiger: British actress, best known for her role in the soap opera EastEnders
- Franz Höhensteiger: Austrian landscape painter
- Julie Höhensteiger: Swiss ice hockey player
- Manfred Höhensteiger: Austrian alpine skier