Surname Steigers - Meaning and Origin
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Steigers: What does the surname Steigers mean?
The German surname Steigers, also spelled Stigers or Steiger, is thought to have origined from the word "Steig," which was taken from Middle High German and means "climb" or "step." As a patronymic name, the surname Steigers indicated that the bearer was the son of someone by the name of Steig. This name is common in the areas of Bavaria and Hesse in Germany, as well as throughout much of central Europe.
The surname Steigers was a descriptive one, referring to someone who lived in a house on a hill or cliff. The implication of the name is that the house was so high or steep that it was necessary to climb steps to get to the entrance. It is thought that the name was first used by someone who lived on such a hill, and it could also possibly have been used to describe someone who lived in a highly elevated area in a mountainous region.
The name Steigers is also found more rarely in the United States, as people bearing the name immigrated to the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is now a popular name among Americans, and can be found in many states across the nation.
Order DNA origin analysisSteigers: Where does the name Steigers come from?
The last name Steigers is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, and France. It is particularly popular in German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In 2020, over 2000 members of the Steigers family were registered as living in Switzerland.
The Steigers family is also prominent in the United States and Canada. The name is widely dispersed throughout the two countries, although there is a concentration in the Central and Midwest regions. The most densely populated areas are around the cities of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Rosemount, Minnesota.
In addition, Steigers can be found in South Africa, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. However, the name is much rarer in these areas, and the numbers of Steigers in South Africa and Brazil are insignificant compared to the numbers in Germany or the United States.
The Steigers family is believed to be of Germanic origin. The name first appeared in the records in the 14th century, which means it has been in existence for more than seven hundred years. Members of the family moved to many different parts of the world in the following centuries, which is why the surname is now so widely dispersed.
Variations of the surname Steigers
The surname Steigers has a wide variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The Germanic origin of the surname is evident in the spellings that are derived from its regional dialects, which include Stäger, Steigers, Stieger, Stiegers, Steiger, Steigler, Steggers, Steigar, Steggar, and Steigerwalt. In other languages, such as Yiddish, the surname can be spelled Stayer, Stajer, or Staiger.
Variants of the surname Steigers are also found in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. These variants include Stajer, Stayer, Staiger, Stair, Staegar, Stiger, and Steiege. In some cases, the surname has also been Anglicized to Stagers.
The Netherlands is also home to its own set of spelling variations for Steigers, including Stiggers, Steigzer, Stieger, Steiggers, Stegger, and Stager. Surnames originating from the Netherlands are often found in records with numbers, such as Steger 14 or Stiggers 1.
In the United States, Steigers is also spelled as Steigard, Stayger, Steagard, or Staiger. In some cases, variants of the surname were adopted by immigrants when they arrived in the country. For example, some German immigrants were known to use the versions Stayger or Staiger instead of the original versions Steigers or Stäger.
Overall, Steigers is a widely distributed surname with numerous variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Its regional dialects and the influence of immigration have generated a wide variety of possible spellings.
Famous people with the name Steigers
- Rod Steiger: a famous American actor, best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in In the Heat of the Night, his role as Max North in The Pawnbroker, and his portrayal of Napoleon Bonaparte in Waterloo.
- Scott Steiger: an American celebrity chef, television host, and restaurateur best known for his television show Barbecue U and for being the creator of the popular Rubs & Barbecue cookbook series.
- Frederick Steiger: a successful American banker and businessman primarily known as the former president and CEO of the Bank of America.
- Bill Steiger: a professional baseball player and scout. He played for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, before embarking on an illustrious scouting career.
- Henry Steiger: a businessman and the former Secretary of the Interior under Richard Nixon who is best known for helping to lead the beginnings of the environmental movement during his tenure at the White House.
- Betty Steiger: an acclaimed American soprano singer and actress, known for her appearances on Broadway and also for playing Maria in the original production of The Sound of Music.
- Zoe Steiger: an American film and television actress best known for her roles in the series Suburgatory and Scorpion.
- Martin Steiger: a German architect and sculptor, one of the most influential figures in German modernist architecture.
- Pat Steiger: an American environmental science professor, author, and activist best known for her work in the field of global sustainability.
- Erik Steiger: a multiple world champion in cycling and the owner of several speed records.