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Show ContentsSteele History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Steele Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI
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Etymology of Steele

What does the name Steele mean?

The surname Steele is a name whose history begins in 1066 with the Norman Conquest of England. This Norman name was used for a person who was strong or reliable. The surname Steele is a metaphor likening the constitution of its bearer to the hard metal of the same name. 1

Early Origins of the Steele family

The surname Steele was first found in the shires of Ayr, Berwick, and Dumfries. In Berwickshire the old parish of Steill is now Ladykirk. Early records of the family in Scotland include: Henry Stel, a juror on inquisition on lands of Hopkelchoc, 1259, and William Stele, Burgess of Edinburgh, 1423. John Steil or Steyll appears as prebendary of Kilmoir, 1434 and 1448, and another John Stevll was tenant of part of Cowpergrange, 1486. 2

Early History of the Steele family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Steele research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1259, 1524, 1530, 1567, 1627, 1637, 1672, 1680, 1729 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Steele History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Steele Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Steele, Steill, Steel, Steal and others.

Early Notables of the Steele family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William Steele (died 1680), Lord Chancellor of Ireland
  • Right Hon. Thomas Steele (d. 1823), MP for Chichester

Steele World Ranking

In the United States, the name Steele is the 312nd most popular surname with an estimated 87,045 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Steele is ranked the 471st most popular surname with an estimated 10,151 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Steele is the 549th popular surname with an estimated 83 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Steele as 361st with 10,022 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Steele as 331st with 1,898 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Steele as 333rd with 18,422 people. 8

Migration of the Steele family to Ireland

Some of the Steele family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Steele migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Steele Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. James Steele, of Essex who arrived in Nantaskett, Massachusetts in 1631 aboard the ship "Lyon", bound for Cambridge
  • Mr. George Steele, of Essex who arrived in Nantaskett, Massachusetts in 1631 aboard the ship "Lyon", bound for Cambridge 9
  • Miss Mary Steele, of Essex who arrived in Nantaskett, Massachusetts in 1631 aboard the ship "Lyon", bound for Cambridge 9
  • Mr. John Steele, Jr., who arrived in Nantaskett, Massachusetts in 1631 aboard the ship "Lyon", bound for Cambridge 9
  • Mr. John Steele, of Essex who arrived in Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1631 aboard the ship "Lyon", bound for Cambridge 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Steele Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Geo Steele, who landed in Virginia in 1706 9
  • Mary Steele, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 9
  • Andrew Steele, who arrived in Maine in 1776 9
  • Jos Steele, who landed in Virginia in 1788 9
  • Benjamin Steele, who arrived in Mississippi in 1799 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Steele Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philip Millington Steele, who landed in America in 1806 9
  • Archibald Steele, aged 37, who arrived in Maine in 1812 9
  • Arthur Steele, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1812 9
  • John Steele, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1816 9
  • S Steele, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1821 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Steele migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Steele Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Steele, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • William Steele, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Steele, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Steele, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • John Steele, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1762 11
Steele Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Steele who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 8th June 1847 12
  • Mr. John Steele, aged 50 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 31st May 1847 12
  • Mrs. Margaret Cook Steele, aged 42 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 1st June 1847 12

Steele migration to Australia +

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

Steele Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Peter Steele, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. John Steele, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
  • Mr. Thomas Steele who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. John Steele, British convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • Andrew William Steele, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Steele migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Steele Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Steele, Scottish settler from Aberdeen travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 18
  • Mr. Samuel Steele, (b. 1839), aged 22, Irish ploughman, from Londonderry travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 18
  • Mr. George S. Steele, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 19
  • George S. Steele, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 20
  • David Steele, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Steele (post 1700) +

  • Major General Frederick Steele (1819-1868), American senior officer of the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War, Yuma War, and American Civil War, noted for the capture of the Arkansas state capitol at Little Rock in 1863 and leading Steele's Greenville expedition during the American Civil War
  • Tim Steele (1968-2024), American stock car racing driver
  • Robert David Steele (1952-2021), American CIA officer and conspiracy theorist who died of COVID-19 in Florida on August 30, 2021 at the age of 69 after claiming COVID-19 was a hoax since July 2021
  • William Mitchell "Bill" Steele (1885-1949), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1910 through 1914
  • William O. Steele (1917-1979), American author, best known for his book The Perilous Road, which won the Newbery Medal in 1959
  • William Randolph Steele (1842-1901), American politician, Delegate from the Territory of Wyoming (1873-1877)
  • Fletcher Steele (1859-1971), American landscape architect
  • Allen Mulherin Steele Jr. (b. 1958), award-winning American science fiction author
  • Michael Stephen Steele (b. 1958), first African American chairman of the Republican National Committee, Lt. Governor of the State of Maryland (2003-2007)
  • Harold Raymond Steele OC (1929-2022), Newfoundland-born, Canadian businessman from Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland, known for his work with Newfoundland Capital Corporation (NCC) and Eastern Provincial Airways (EPA)
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Steele (1880-1914), née Flood Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
  • Miss Lily Ada Steele (1874-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
  • Master James Steele (1914-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
  • Miss Nora Mary Steele (1908-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
Hillsborough disaster
  • Philip John Steele (1973-1989), English schoolboy who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 22
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Joseph W Steele (b. 1923), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Bootle, Cumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
  • Mr. Alexander Steele (b. 1921), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from kirkdale, Liverpool, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Steele, British sailor, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25
  • Mr. Steele, British Engine Room Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 25
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Simeon Steele, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 26
  • Mr. Douglas Steele, British Leading Signalman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 26
HMS Royal Oak
  • Ronald Frederick Steele (1920-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 27
  • Cecil Arthur Steele (1919-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 27
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. George Steele, English 3rd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 28

Suggested Readings for the name Steele +

  • The Steele Family in America by Steele Barnett.
  • The Moody-Steele and Allied Families by Ruby Moody Gamble.
  • Steele and Related Family Ancestry by Lewis L. Neubacher.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  12. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 56)
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  17. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  22. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  23. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  27. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  28. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

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