Surname Stinnes - Meaning and Origin
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Stinnes: What does the surname Stinnes mean?
The last name Stinnes is a German surname, derived from a city of the same name located in Saxony-Anhalt, on the Saale River. It is believed to be of Celtic origin, and a variation of the name Stein.
In medieval days, the town of Stinnes (also known as Steinhausen) was known for the trade of animal hides, and the last name most likely developed as an occupational name referring to someone involved with hide trading. Its use became widespread in the Late Middle Ages, when people often took on the name of their hometown.
In modern times, the name Stinnes is primarily found in Germany, as well as Austria and other German-speaking countries. It is quite common throughout the region, likely due to its broad history and long-standing place in German culture.
Many people with the Stinnes surname have illustrious backgrounds, as it is well-documented among German nobility dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. German industrialist Hugo Stinnes was a prominent figure in the post-World War I German economy, and is widely considered to be the wealthiest man in history at the time of his death in 1924.
Today, people who bear the Stinnes name continue to make an important contribution to German culture and society, maintaining historical connections while looking to the future.
Order DNA origin analysisStinnes: Where does the name Stinnes come from?
The last name Stinnes is mainly concentrated in Germany today. The name is especially prevalent in the northern and western parts of the country. According to a study conducted by the Central Institute for Genealogy in 2019, Stinnes is the 885th most popular surname in Germany with an estimated 8,500 - 10,000 bearers.
The name is believed to be of Belgian-French or Dutch origin and is likely derived from the Latin word sturnus meaning ‘starling’. It is possible that the name was originally carried by someone in the avian trade and who made a surname out of a bird’s name – hence the family’s association with birds.
The first mention of the name was of Godeschalcus de Stinnes, a Cluniac monk who lived in 1000 AD according to historical documents. It is believed that over the centuries, the surname spread mainly through the northern parts of the country, where it has been primarily retained.
Today, Stinnes is likely best known for Hugo Stinnes (1870 - 1924), a German industrialist and founder of the conglomerate Hugo Stinnes AG. He rose to prominence in the 1920’s through his diverse investments in steel, coal, transport, electricity and other industrial fields. Though there are no direct descendants of his bearing the Stinnes name, his legacy lives through the many monuments and monuments to his range of responsibilities.
Variations of the surname Stinnes
The surname Stinnes has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Stinnes, Steines, Stennes, Steinnes, Steinhuser, Stienes, Stuenes, Steinhaus, Steinhauer, Steinhauser, Steinhüser, Steinhöser, Stinnesen, Steinesen, Stennesen, and Steinsen. This surname is of German origin, with the literal meaning of “stone house,” derived from the German root words “stein” for “stone” and “haus” for “house.”
The earliest known recording of the surname with any of its variants is that of Stini Stinnes, which was dated 1254, in the charters of the city of Halberstadt, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Various branches of the Stinnes family derived their names in a similar fashion, with surnames such as Steinhaus, Steinhauer, and Steinhauser all comprising of a compound of “stein” and “haus.” The variant Steinhuser comes from Germanic origin meaning “stony house” and is derived from the 'haus' suffix. The variants Steinhöser and Steinhüser are also of Germanic origin, and have the same meaning as the Steinhaus variant.
Surnames such as Stiens, Stines, Stinnesen, Steinesen, Stennesen, and Steinsen have similar origins, and are related to the original surname Stinnes. They are likely derived from the original meaning of “stone house,” but the suffix “-sen” indicates that it is a patronymic or locative surname, and likely originated from a place name of some sort.
Overall, the surname Stinnes has evolved into a variety of different variant spellings and surnames, each with its own unique origin. Despite the different spellings, they all share a common meaning of “stone house.”
Famous people with the name Stinnes
- Hugo Stinnes: an influential German industrialist, one of the leading figures of the Weimar Republic.
- Fritz Stinnes: son of Hugo, and major German industrialist, like his father.
- Carl Stinnes: a German industrial magnate and politician, brother of Hugo Stinnes.
- Olaf Stinnes: a German industrialist and banker.
- Therese Stinnes: a successful German actress of the Weimar Republic.
- Adolf Stinnes: a German industrialist and politician, son of Hugo and brother of Fritz and Carl.
- Kurt Stinnes: a prominent German industrialist and banker, brother of Olaf.
- Katrina Stinnes: a noted Swedish actress.
- Claus Stinnes: a German industrialist and politician, son of Fritz and brother of Adolf.
- Thomas Stinnes: a German banker and industrialist, son of Olaf Stinnes.