Surname Steffens - Meaning and Origin
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Steffens: What does the surname Steffens mean?
The last name Steffens is of German origin and is derived from the given name Stephan or Steven. People with the name Steffens are believed to be descended from the ancient Germanic tribe known as the Franks. Historically, the Franks were powerful and influential noble warriors and rulers of Europe.
The root of the name Steffens is Stephan, which originates from the Greek name, Stephanos. In Greek, the meaning of Stephanos is “crown”, which suggests that members of this family are “kingly” or hold a higher status. Therefore, the last name Steffens connotes power and nobility.
The Steffens family history is interwoven with several well-known figures in German and European history. Famous public figures such as August Bebel, John Diefenbaker, Jim Lehrer and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe have all been associated with the Steffens family.
Today, the Steffens family name is widely distributed throughout the world. It is especially common in Germany, where it is the 22nd most common surname. Steffens is also well-known in parts of the United Kingdom, and the United States, where it is the 3,031st most common surname.
Overall, the Steffens family name evokes feelings of influence, power, nobility, and a proud past in German and European history.
Order DNA origin analysisSteffens: Where does the name Steffens come from?
The last name Steffens is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the top 300 most common surnames in the country. It is also fairly common in Denmark, where it is the 291st most popular last name. In the United States, the last name Steffens is currently ranked within the top 2000 most popular surnames.
The Steffens surname has likely Germanic origins, and was originally probably derived from the German word “Steffen” which means “shields of victory”. This is a reference to the Germanic custom of painting shields with white paint after a battle victory. Over time, the name Steffens may have been adopted as a surname by families who wanted to remember these triumphant battles, or to otherwise honor their Germanic heritage.
Today, the Steffens name can be found in many countries around the world, including Germany, Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, England, France, Canada, Switzerland, and Austria. It is particularly common in the German-speaking world, and is ranked as the 669th most common name in Germany.
Overall, the Steffens surname is a common one in several countries. It is likely to have roots in the German-speaking world and may have been adopted as a way of honoring one’s Germanic heritage. Today, the Steffens name can be found in many countries and is particularly prominent in Germany.
Variations of the surname Steffens
The Steffens surname can be spelled as Steffens, Steffensen, Steffanson, or Steffan. It is also sometimes written as Stefans, Stafans, Steffans, Steffanus, Steffano, and Stifano. Steffens is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Stefan, which is the German, Scandinavian, Dutch, and Eastern European form of Stephen. The origin of the given name is from the Greek name Stephanós, meaning "crown."
Variants of the surname can be found in several countries throughout Europe, indicative of the family's migration. The Northern German variant is typically spelled Steffens, while the Dutch variation is Steffensz. Additionally, there is an Estonian variant, Steffen, and a Danish variation, Steffensen. The variant Steffan has been found in Switzerland, while the variant Stafans is found primarily in Lithuania.
The surname Steffens is most common in Germany, but can also be found in the United States, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, and Australia. It is generally considered an occupational surname, deriving from the Old German term ‘staf’, meaning “staff” or “rod”, which referred to a scribe or record-keeper. Occasionally, the name could also mean “traveller”. Those bearing the Steffens surname often descend from a family of status, as it was commonly used as a second name for members of the same family associated with nobility.
Famous people with the name Steffens
- Lion Steffens: German professional ice hockey player
- Joost Steffens: Dutch slalom kayaker and world champion
- Heiner Steffens: German musicologist
- Marius Steffens: German rugby player
- Wilhelm Steffens: German romantic poet
- Peter Steffens: German actor
- Ad Steffens: Dutch actor
- Maarten Steffens: Dutch professor of experimental neuroimmunology
- Thomas Steffens: German professional ice hockey player
- Theo Steffens: Dutch entrepreneur
- Steve Steffens: American journalist
- Robert Steffens: American composer
- Julius Steffens: German physicist
- Willem Steffens: Dutch journalist
- Rudolf Steffens: German adventurer
- Ruth Steffens: German actor
- Karl Steffens: German mathematician
- Christa Steffens: Swiss painter
- Conni Steffens: German DJ
- Uwe Steffens: German former football player