Steger

This interesting and unusual surname is of German origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, the surname may be a topographical name for someone who lived by a path running up a hillside, from an agent derivative of the German "steig", steep path or track (Old High German "stic", from "stigan", to climb). The surname may also derive from the Old High German "steg", Middle German "steg", plank bridge, and would have been a topographical name for a "dweller by a plank bridge". Topographical surnames were among the earliest to be created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. The surname has many variant spellings ranging from Stigger(s) and Stiger(s) to Steger(s), Steiger(s) and Steigar(s). On October 18th 1689, the marriage of Edward Stigger and Susan Tooth took place at Ash by Wrotham, Kent. Gerardus, son of Gerardus and Mecheldt Stiggers, was christened at Bislich, Rheinland, Germany, on October 11th 1722. The christening of Arthur, son of Thomas and Sarah Stiggers, took place on March 31st 1867, at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Stager, which was dated September 8th 1559, christened at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.