Surname Stephan - Meaning and Origin

Stephan: What does the surname Stephan mean?

The last name Stephan is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Greek name “Stephanos,” which means “crown.” Additionally, it is the German form of the name “Stephen,” a variation of the Latin Stephanus.

The name is popular, as it is shared among many nations. It can also be spelled Steffan, Stephans, Steophans, Steffen, Steffens, and Stephe. As a last name, it carries the same meaning as its original name: that of a coronated king or ruler.

The name is associated with a number of historical figures including the Biblical Stephen, the first Christian martyr; St. Stephen of Hungary; the 15th-century monk Stephanus; and the 18th-century German theologian and reformer Johann Valentim Stephan. It has been used across Europe since early times, and even in the United States, has been popular since the early 1800s.

In addition to its popularity from the Christian faith, the last name Stephan is also linked to the Greek legend of Stephanos, who was bravely protecting the kingdom from a mythical beast, called the Minotaur. This feat gave the name its regal association, representing honor and victory.

Stephan has also been the name of three Roman Catholic popes, one of whom is currently (St. John Paul II). The name has also been borne by various kings and religious leaders throughout European history, making it a popular choice for a baby boy name or surname.

Stephan: Where does the name Stephan come from?

The last name Stephan is most commonly found in Germany today. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

In Germany, Stephan is the sixth-most-common surname, with around 255,000 people bearing the name at the start of 2020. It is most common in two states: Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, where it is fourth and fifth, respectively. It is also fairly common in other states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse, and Saxony.

In other parts of Europe, Stephan is also a fairly common name. Austria has around 17,000 people with the last name, and Switzerland has more than 12,000. Romania's Census of 2011 found around 11,000 people with the Stephan surname, while Spain recorded around 5,000 people. It is also found in smaller numbers in other countries such as the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

The meaning of the Stephan surname is not clear, although it could have derived from the Greek name Stephanos, which means 'crown'. Some researchers also link it to the first name Stefan, which is derived from the name Stephen, meaning 'crown'.

Variations of the surname Stephan

The surname Stephan can have various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. This is most likely due to the many examples of anglicization of surnames during immigration. Some of the various spellings, variants, and surnames of Stephan include:

Stephan

-Stephanus

-Stephanos

-Stephano

-Stepaios

-Stipan

-Stipanovich

-Stepeon

-Stepian

Steffen

-Stefano

-Steffan

-Stefansson

-Stefler

-Stefian

-Stefanos

-Stefanovich

Stephan

-Steffan

-Stephani

-Stefani

-Stephanos

-Stephanus

-Stephans

Stephens

-Stephans

-Stephenson

-Stephanovsky

Stephane

-Stéphane

-Steffane

-Stephano

-Stephani

Stepanski

-Stipanovskis

-Stepanovich

-Stepanovitch

Stephanson

-Stephanuson

-Stephanssen

-Stefanson

-Stephensen

With the various possible spellings, it can be difficult to locate records of ancestors with the surname Stephan. It is important to become familiar with these possible variants and spellings when researching family history.

Famous people with the name Stephan

• Stephen Curry: basketball player
• Alex Aja: film director
• Paul Stephen Rudd: actor
• Stephen Hawking: theoretical physicist
• Stephen Colbert: comedian and talk show host
• Stephen King: author
• Stephen Amell: actor
• Stephen Fry: actor, comedian, writer
• Stephen A. Smith: sports analyst and television host
• Stephen Malkmus: musician
• Stephen Merchant: actor, director, producer and writer
• Stephen Schwartz: composer and lyricist
• Stephan El Shaarawy:soccer player
• Stephen R. Covey: author and speaker
• Stephen Sondheim: composer and lyricist
• Stephen Ross: businessman and philanthropist
• Stephen vibe: singer-songwriter
• Stephan Bonnar: mixed martial artist
• Stephan Jenkins: musician
• Stephen Baldwin: actor

Other surnames

StephStephaniStephanidesStephanoStephansStephansenStephanusStephanyStephenStephensStephensenStephensonStephensson