Surname Sternal - Meaning and Origin
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Sternal: What does the surname Sternal mean?
The last name Sternal is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "ster(n)al" which means "of or belonging to a star". This surname was likely given to an ancestor of the Sternal family who was associated with the star of Bethlehem or a star of significance.
The Sternal family likely originated in the late Middle Ages in what is now modern Germany. During this time, surnames were just beginning to be used, and tended to be based on physical features, geographical location, or occupation. Therefore, this surname was most likely created to indicate direct lineage from a successful ancestor. The Sternal surname is unique in that it is associated with a celestial object.
The Sternal family may have also symbolically claimed a connection to an ancient celestial deity or angel. By taking on the star-derived surname, the family may have been expressing their faith of a benevolent power from the heavens or the miraculous power of Christ in Christian faith.
Today, the surname Sternal is well-known for its equine horses, which have competed in the Olympics and various equestrian tournaments. The Sternal family's proud equine legacy dates back to the early 20th century when Adolf Sternal began breeding horses in the small village of Mannstadt, Germany. He also served on the jury of the 1928 Summer Olympic Games.
Adolf's sons, Fritz and Walter Sternal, also followed in their father's footsteps and continued their equestrian endeavors, producing impressive horses throughout the years. The legacy of the Sternal family and their star-derived surname lives on today, as they continue to breed horses and compete in competitions around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSternal: Where does the name Sternal come from?
The last name Sternal is of German origin and is primarily found in German-speaking countries. Today, it remains most common in Germany, where it ranks as the 1011th most common surname. Beyond Germany, Sternal family name can be found in small numbers in Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and throughout the United States. In the U.S., the name is most heavily concentrated in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Sternal is often considered to be a habitational name derived from a place called Sternfeld in the German state of Hesse. This small town was named due to its shape – stern is the German-language word for star and feld translates to field. As such, the name may have originally been given to those who came from Sternfeld.
The earliest record of the Sternal name dates back to the late 16th century in Bavaria. In the 1600s, some members of the family moved south towards Tirol, which in turn created a new branch of the family that can now be found in Northern Italy.
The name Sternal is not common today, but it is often associated with the traditional cuisine of Germany; specifically, the family’s ancestral dishes of schnitzel, Rösti, potato dumplings, and sauerkraut. As a result, the family name is often kept alive by the culinary traditions that are still enjoyed in many Sternal family homes.
Variations of the surname Sternal
The surname Sternal is of German origin. It is a variant of the name Stern and its variants, which all derive from the Old German word “ster,” meaning “star.” All of these variants have a history that dates back to medieval Germany. The most commonly seen variations of Sternal are Stermal, Stermal and Sternahl.
Stermal is a variant of Sternal and is often seen in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and France. Its earliest records come from the 1500s. It is also a common variant in the US, appearing in the 1940 United States Federal Census.
Stermal is another variation of Sternal that is seen mainly in Germany, Sweden, France, and the Netherlands. It is the earliest recorded variant of Sternal, with records dating back to the 1400s in Germany.
Sternahl is the most common variant of Sternal in the United States. It has documents throughout the US as early as the 1840s.
Stern, Stearn, Sterner, Stearner, Stearns, Sterne and Sturn are also variants of Sternal. These variants are mainly seen in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada.
Although the variations of Sternal are numerous, they all have the same root meaning of “star” and they all stem from the same origin in Germany.
Famous people with the name Sternal
- Mary Sternal: Mary Sternal is a former US Ambassador to Angola who also held the post from 1993 to 1995.
- Larry Sternal: Larry Sternal is a Cambodian-born human rights lawyer whose work spans the globe. He is best known for his contributions to the trials of Slobodan Milosevic, Saddam Hussein and Radovan Karadzic.
- Geovani Sternal: Geovani Sternal is a professional futsal player who currently plays for Spanish club Orihuela CFS.
- Alena Sternal: Alena Sternal is an actress, best known as the voice of Zara on the teen sitcom Clarissa Explains It All.
- Ashley Sternal: Ashley Sternal is a professional figure skater who has won multiple medals in international competitions, most notably taking home the gold at 2014's U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
- Thomas Sternal: Thomas Sternal is an Emmy-nominated Hollywood author and screenwriter who is best known for his work on the television series, Nash Bridges.
- Emil Sternal: Emil Sternal is a professional Australian football player who plays for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
- Johan Sternal: Johan Sternal is a professional swimmer who has won multiple world championship medals.
- Todd Sternal: Todd Sternal is a Grammy nominated music producer. He has worked on several hit albums such as Adele’s 21 and Drake’s Take Care.