Surname Stähly - Meaning and Origin
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Stähly: What does the surname Stähly mean?
The surname Stähly is of German origin and is thought to have been derived from the word “Stahl”, which means “steel” in German. The name is thought to refer to a person in possession of a large amount of steel, and thus would have been given to a person with an economic advantage.
The surname Stähly can also describe someone who was “strong and hard like steel”, or it might refer to “one with a shiny and silvery coat of hair”. It is also possible that the name derived from a location such as a village near a steel forge.
The Stähly surname has a long and rich history, having been in use for centuries. It may have originally been used in regions of Germany such as Silesia, Thuringia, and Mecklenburg, but it eventually spread across Europe to locations such as Switzerland, France, and the United States.
Today, the surname is still quite common, with thousands of people still using it in many countries across the world. Very often, it still has the same meaning of strength and resiliency that it did many centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisStähly: Where does the name Stähly come from?
The last name Stähly is most common in the German-speaking regions of Europe. In particular, it is most frequent in the country of Switzerland, where it has been around since the 16th century, when it was likely adopted from an area in northeastern France.
The name is also common in Germany, Bavaria, and Liechtenstein, as well as in Austria, parts of the Czech Republic, and some parts of Belgium. While the name is not considered especially common outside of the German-speaking regions of Europe, it does occasionally appear elsewhere. In the US, for example, it is especially common in Pennsylvania, where many German-speaking settlers arrived in the late 1700s and the 1800s.
As for Australia, the name does appear, but not in great numbers. It is mostly concentrated in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, which were areas that were heavily settled by German-speaking immigrants during the 19th century.
Despite its origins centuries ago, the name remains popular in the German-speaking parts of Europe today.
Variations of the surname Stähly
The surname Stähly is a German-language surname, meaning "stout oak" or "sturdy oak." Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Staehly, Staheli, Stahel, Stahelgy, Stahelgi, Stahelgau, Stahelie, Stahelig, Stahely, Stahelyg, Stahli, Stahlis, and Staely.
A variant spelling, Stahel or Staheli, is especially common in Switzerland and adjoining parts of southern Germany. In Germany, a variant form is Stahl, cognate with the English “steel”. In Switzerland, the spelling Stahel is usually associated with the Flims Valley, in the canton of Grisons (Grischun).
Another variant form of Stähly is Stahelgau (or Stahelgy, Stahelgi) which is found in the southern part of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemburg. This form of the surname may have originated in the small city of Stöhlingen, located in the district of Waldshut-Tiengen, in Baden-Württemburg.
The surname Staely is a variant form found in France and Switzerland. It is believed to have evolved from Stähly, the original German surname.
Finally, Stahli is a variant form to be found mainly in Switzerland, although it was carried by some emigrants to the United States in past centuries. In Switzerland, this form of the surname is found particularly in the canton of Bern (Berne).
Famous people with the name Stähly
- Veronika Stähly: German actress
- Wilhelm Stähly: German artist
- Ulf Stähly: Swiss director
- Hans Stähly: Swiss musician, composer, and conductor
- Paul Stähly: Swiss entomologist
- Felix Stähly: German painter
- Agnes Stähly: Austrian actress
- Lukas Stähly: Swiss handball goalkeeper
- May Stähly: German singer, songwriter, and actor
- Luise Stähly: German actress