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The origins of the family name of SteinThe German family name Stein is of habitation origin, indicating the location of the initial bearer’s residence or the community whence he hailed. In this instance, the surname Stein may be traced to any one of the many towns and villages called Stein, which are located throughout Germany. By the same token, the German word “Stein” means “stone” or “rock”, and hence it is likely that the family name Stein would often have referred to one who dwelled near a large or prominent stone which served as a local landmark.Alternatively, there are also cases where the family name Stein was inspired by the given name of the father of the original bearer. Here, the origin of the surname would lie in a short form of old Germanic personal names, such as “Steinmar” and “Steinhard”. Along the same lines, “Stein” was also used in Germany as a pet form of the Latin personal name “Augustin”, which means “the exalted one”, and which was popularised through the veneration of Saint Augustine of Hippo. One of the earliest references to this family name is a record of one Burkhard imme Steine, who was a citizen of Rheinfelden in the year 1288. There is also an entry dated 31 October 1562, regarding the christening of Merten Stein, son of Brosius Stein of Altenburg, Thuringia. Among notable bearers of this family name may be mentioned Johann Andreas Stein ( 1728 – 1792 ), a maker of pianos, organs and harpsichords. One of his creations was used, and praised with enthusiasm, by the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1777. The arms described below were granted to a Stein family from the region of Westphalia. BLAZON OF ARMS : Quarterly; first and fourth or three lozenges gules conjoined in bend; second and third chequy argent and gules a label of Four points azure in chief. TRANSLATION : Or (gold) denotes generosity. The lozenges signify honesty. Argent (white) denotes peace and the label connotes honour. CREST : A cushion argent surmounted by a demi vol sable. ORIGIN : Germany |
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