Surname Staiß - Meaning and Origin
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Staiß: What does the surname Staiß mean?
The last name Staiß is an occupational surname originating from Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word “steche,” which means “to stab.” As such, it is likely that the original bearer of this name was a swordsmith or someone who crafted other metal objects such as darts and knives. It is also considered to have been a nickname for a brave or powerful warrior.
Originally, Staiß was a locational name, and those who first used it would have been found around the area near the Rhine and Danube Rivers. This was historically a prosperous and heavily populated region, which made many trades, including the one associated with this name possible. Over time, members of the family spread throughout the German-speaking world and their name with them. Today, the surname is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and other countries.
Today, the name Staiß is a fairly common one and is clearly a reference to a profession long since lost to time. It is a reminder of the hard work and dedication of the men and women who created and repaired weapons with dexterity and precision, an admirable skill that is now often lost and forgotten.
Order DNA origin analysisStaiß: Where does the name Staiß come from?
The last name Staiß is commonly found in the German-speaking countries, particularly in Germany and Austria.
It is believed to be of German origin, and the name is derived from the word, ‘Staiss’, which literally means ‘standing’ and is a type of nick-name for people who held a position of power or importance in the middle ages.
The name Staiß can be found in both rural and urban areas and is a fairly common name in Germany. In 2019, it ranked amongst the 150 most common surnames in Germany according to the Genealogy website 'Gelbe Seiten'. It has been noted that people with this last name are generally found living in cities such as Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Dresden, Essen, Wuppertal, and Cologne.
The Staiß family can also be found in Austria, where their surname was found in the Arabian population of Tyrol in the Alpenregion of northern Tyrol in the late eighteenth century. Many of these families have since moved to other parts of Austria and abroad.
The name is said to have originated with the Austrian Empire, during the time of Emperor Francis I of Austria. It is also said to date back to the Middle Ages, where there were a number of families with the last name living in the Rhineland area of Germany.
Today, people with the last name Staiß can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and other countries around the world. It is a name that is shared by a vast number of people living all around the globe.
Variations of the surname Staiß
Staiß is a surname found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a variation of a biblical name from middle high German: Staiz meaning ‘burden, load’, and is related to the Germanic element stand ‘stand’.
Common variants or alternative spellings of the surname Staiß include Staiss, Staiz, Staas, Stauss, Stausser, Staussner, Staes, Staeß, Staib, Stayß, Staeßer, Staehler, Staiber, Staebler, Staebeler, and Staibel. Surnames with a similar origin and meaning include Staeser, Staese, Staeble, Staehle, Stahelin, Stahele, Stahely, and Stahely.
The surname Staiss is found in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, while Staiber is found in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. In Austria, Staiss is found mainly in Tyrol and Vorarlberg while Staebler is found in Upper Austria. In Switzerland, Staisser is the most common variant of Staiß.
Although the name Staiß is of Germanic origin, other forms of the name are found in other European countries, such as the Czech State (Staiz), Slovakia (Staas), France (Staes), and Hungary (Stad).
As well as these, several ancient variations of the Staiß surname have since evolved, such as Staiz, Staib, Staussner, Staebeler, Stahelin, and Staehle.
The differences in spelling the Staiß surname can be attributed to various factors such as regional dialects, language variations, migration, illiteracy, and the use of foreign languages when documenting family history.
Famous people with the name Staiß
- Alexander Staiß: German historian, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Munich.
- Wolfgang Staiß: German politician, former prime minister of Sachsen-Anhalt.
- Sabine Staiß: German politician, former president of the German Trade Union Federation.
- Ska Maria Staiß: German singer and songwriter.
- Christoph Staiß: German actor and puppeteer, significant roles include Jürgen in "Der elektrische Gast" and Harald in "Schwarze Hoffnung".
- Thomas Staiß: German director, notable works include "Die Geburt des Orpheus", "Die Wiederkehr des Sirius" and "Die Passion des Orpheus".
- Wilhelm Staiß: Swiss bobsledder, competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.
- Sibylle Staiß: German graphic designer and illustrator.
- Horst Staiß: German professional footballer, goalkeeper for Eintracht Braunschweig in the 1960s.
- Anja Staiß: German psychologist and author, co-author of "Frauen und Geschlechterforschung" and "Geschlechtsspezifische Perspektiven".