Surname Staigner - Meaning and Origin
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Staigner: What does the surname Staigner mean?
The last name Staigner is of French origin, derived from the old French word stoigner, meaning "to dam". This suggests that the name may have been first adopted by someone who lived near a river and used their skills to build a dam along its course.
By the 18th century, the name had evolved to de staigner, with the de indicating the bearer was of noble birth. As such, the surname is connected to a number of prominent families in the regions from which it originated.
At the start of the 20th century, many of the descendants of these families had moved to other countries, including Canada and the United States. Here, the name is still in use, and the phonetic spelling of "stainer" is commonly seen.
Today, those bearing the Staigner name may be found in a variety of occupations, ranging from professional trades to the arts. Some may be active in a variety of charitable and community-based initiatives. In any event, the name remains linked to a long and distinguished history of achievement and service.
Order DNA origin analysisStaigner: Where does the name Staigner come from?
The last name Staigner is most commonly found today in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. Records in the United States reveal the surname dates back to the early 1800s, likely brought to the United States by German or Swiss immigrants. In Austria, the surname is most common in the northern region near the Czech-Austrian border. It is more sparsely distributed throughout the remainder of the country.
In Germany, the last name Staigner is most commonly found in Hesse, a state toward the western side of the country. Records in the region show the surname dates back to at least the 1400s. It is also common in Brenan and the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district in southern Germany. The surname is less common in other areas of the country, but there have been reports of individuals bearing the Staigner surname in the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
In Switzerland, the last name Staigner is most commonly found in the German-speaking cantons towards the eastern part of the country. It is also found in small towns near the French and Italian borders.
In America, the Staigner family is found in many parts of the country. In 2019, the Social Security Administration listed the last name Staigner as the 16,842nd most popular name in the United States. It was most popular in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Staigner
The Staigner surname is derived from a Germanic word stem and is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. Variants of the name include Stainier, Staigner, Staingner, Steiner, Steiniger, and Steingartner.
The Stainier variant of this surname was likely common in Germany and Switzerland. This spelling was likely derived from the Old German word ‘stemmer’ meaning ‘to press,’ which was used to describe wine or beer making. The Staigner and Staingner versions were likelyproducts of French linguistic influences.
The Steiner variant, Steingartner, could be an adaptation of the German phrase “steinar gartner,” meaning ‘rock gardener’ or ‘stone worker’. This could indicate that a member of the family was involved in stone masonry or a similar trade. Another variant of the surname is Steiniger, meaning ‘rocky’ or ‘full of stones.’
Other variants of the Staigner surname include Stainger, Stainor, Staner, and Stainer. The Stainger spelling was likely a product of an Irish-Celtic dialect. Also, the spelling of the surname in some cases could have been influenced by the spelling conventions of English which could explain the Staner variant.
Ultimately, the Staigner surname is believed to have originated in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and over the years has evolved into a variety of spellings, both due to regional influences and the result of changing language conventions.
Famous people with the name Staigner
- Greg Staigner: professional rugby union player for the Northland Taniwha in New Zealand.
- Chris Staigner: a British film and television actor and director
- Gordon Staigner: a former American football and baseball player who had a brief stint in the Major League Baseball.
- Peter Staigner: a German politician who served in the Bundestag for the Christian Social Union.
- Gust Staigner: a former professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance.
- Michelle Staigner: a Haitian marathon runner who finished 8th in the 2016 Olympic Marathon.
- William Staigner: a British author who wrote The Chronicles of Belisarius.
- Kendell Staigner: an American basketball player who was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft.
- John Staigner: a retired American basketball coach who served as head coach for the Kansas State Wildcats.
- Dennis Staigner: a former professional cyclist who won a bronze medal at the 1980 UCI Road World Championships.