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Stein History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Stein History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England
Germany

Etymology of Stein

What does the name Stein mean?

The long and noble heritage behind the name of Stein first began in medieval Austria. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Germany, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Stein family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Stein literally means "stone" 1 and was an occupational name for a stone cutter. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old German word stein, meaning stone. In some cases the name may be topographical in nature and derive from the fact the original bearer lived near a prominent stone or rock.

Early Origins of the Stein family

The surname Stein was first found in Austria, in the cities of Berne and Neuchatel, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in regional political struggles for power. They branched into many houses in Austria, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Stein family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stein research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1796, 1809, 1810, 1820, 1838, 1863 and 1935 are included under the topic Early Stein History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stein Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Stein include Steiner, Steinert, Steinertz, Steinerth, Steinere, Stein, Steine and many more.

Early Notables of the Stein family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Stein were

Jacob Steiner (1796-1863), who was a Swiss mathematician, and one of the great developers of geometry...
Kilian von Steiner (1838-1935) was a prominent banker who founded the Schiller Society and the National Schiller Museum...

Stein Ranking

In the United States, the name Stein is the 832^nd most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Stein is ranked the 1,850^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,315 people with that name. 3

Stein migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Stein or a variant listed above:

Stein Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hans Stein, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1639 4

Stein Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martin Stein, who landed in New Jersey in 1709 4
Michel Stein, who arrived in New York in 1709 4
Joh Leonahart Stein, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 4
Leonhart Stein, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1736 4
Johan Casper Stein, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stein Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lewis Stein, who landed in Maryland in 1833 4
Francis Stein, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 4
Anna Maria Stein, who arrived in America in 1837 4
Matthias Stein, who arrived in America in 1837 4
Maria Margareta Stein, who landed in America in 1837 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stein Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sol Stein, who landed in Mississippi in 1900 4
Samuel Joseph Stein, who arrived in Mississippi in 1904 4
Friedrich Stein, who arrived in Alabama in 1913 4
Heinrich Stein, who arrived in Alabama in 1924 4
Carl Heinreich Stein, who landed in Alabama in 1924 4

Stein migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stein Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Stein, who landed in Canada in 1831

Stein migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Stein Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Engelhart Stein a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "South Australian" in 1837 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Stein (post 1700) +

Seymour Stein (1942-2023), American entrepreneur and music executive, co-founder of Sire Records, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005
Robert Jay "Rob" Stein (1943-2022), American political strategist who founded the Democracy Alliance, which provided seed money to America Votes, Media Matters, and the Center for American Progress
Gilbert Stein (1928-2022), American lawyer, law instructor and professional ice hockey executive, vice-president and legal counsel for nearly 15 years for the National Hockey League (NHL), 5th and last President of the NHL in 1992
Judith Stein (1940-2017), American historian, and a Distinguished Professor of History at the City College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Philip Stein (b. 1919), American painter
Dr. Jules C. Stein (1896-1981), American physician, and businessman who founded Music Corporation of America
John Stein (b. 1944), American politician, former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska
Charles F. Stein II (1900-1979), Baltimore historian and heraldist, founding officer of the American College of Heraldry and Arms
Elias M. Stein (b. 1931), American mathematician, co-winner of the 1999 Wolf Prize
William Stein (b. 1974), Professor of Mathematics, University of Washington
... (Another 61 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Stein family +

Triangle Waist Company

Miss Jennie Stein (b. 1893), Russian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 6

Citations +

Bahlow, Hans, Dictionary of German Names. translated by Edda Gentry, Wisconsin: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-924119-35-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 1837-1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837SouthAustralian.htm
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire