Find out how popular the last name Stef is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Stef.

Stef, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Stef surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stef in America

Stef is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stef surname appeared 111 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Stef.

The history of the last name Stef

The surname "STEF" is of German origin, and it first appeared in the region of Bavaria in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "steif," which means "rigid" or "stubborn." This was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone with a determined or unyielding personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "STEF" can be found in the Bavarian town records of Regensburg, where a certain Konrad Stef was mentioned in 1248. This suggests that the name had already been established in the area by the mid-13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname "STEF" began to spread beyond Bavaria, with records showing its presence in other parts of Germany, such as Saxony and the Rhineland. During this time, variations in spelling also emerged, including "Steff," "Steffan," and "Steffen."

One notable bearer of the surname "STEF" was Johann Stef (1500-1567), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg.

Another prominent figure with the surname "STEF" was Christian Stef (1683-1751), a German composer and organist active in the Baroque era. He is best known for his sacred choral works and organ compositions, which were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the surname "STEF" gained recognition through the work of Karl Stef (1821-1878), a German historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Germany and its various regions. His multi-volume work, "Geschichte der deutschen Städte und Territorien" (History of German Cities and Territories), is considered a seminal work in the field of German historical studies.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname "STEF" in modern times was Renate Stef (1930-1998), a German actress and model who achieved international recognition for her roles in several Hollywood films in the 1950s and 1960s. She starred alongside notable actors like Kirk Douglas and Yul Brynner.

It is worth noting that the name "STEF" has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Steffeld and Steflingen, which may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stef

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Stef.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Stef was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Stef was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Stef, please contact us.

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