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

Steiger, 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 Steiger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Steiger in America

Steiger is the 8313th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Steiger surname appeared 3,986 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Steiger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Steiger to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Steiger

The surname Steiger is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "steigen," meaning "to climb" or "to ascend." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived on a hillside or in a mountainous region.

The earliest recorded instances of the Steiger name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Swabia. During this time, surnames were becoming more widespread, often reflecting a person's occupation, physical characteristics, or place of residence.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Steiger name was Johannes Steiger, a merchant from Augsburg, who is mentioned in historical records from the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Hans Steiger, a renowned clockmaker from Nuremberg, who lived from 1515 to 1592 and was renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces.

In the 16th century, the Steiger name appears in the records of the city of Bern, Switzerland, where it was associated with several prominent families. One such family, the Steigers of Bern, played a significant role in the city's political and cultural life during this period.

The name Steiger is also linked to several place names in Germany and Switzerland, such as Steigerwald, a low mountain range in Bavaria, and Steigerwaldgebirge, a range of hills in the Swiss canton of Aargau. These place names likely originated from the same root as the surname, reflecting the geographical features of the areas.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Steiger was Rudolf Steiger, a Swiss philosopher and esotericist who founded the Anthroposophical Society in 1913. His teachings and writings on spirituality and human development have had a lasting influence on various fields, including education, agriculture, and medicine.

Other notable figures with the Steiger surname include:

1. Max Steiger (1888-1971), a Swiss writer and journalist known for his novels and short stories depicting life in rural Switzerland.
2. Johann Steiger (1594-1669), a German theologian and academic who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg.
3. Gaston Steiger (1920-2003), a French politician and member of the European Parliament, known for his work on environmental issues.
4. Walter Steiger (1908-1990), a Swiss architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Zurich and Basel.
5. Yvonne Steiger (born 1947), a Swiss painter and sculptor known for her abstract and figurative works.

While the Steiger name has maintained a strong presence in German-speaking regions, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage, reflecting the diverse and rich history of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Steiger

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

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 Steiger 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Steiger has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Steiger was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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