Stech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Stech was first used by the people of the German province of Westphalia, which lay in the area between the Rhine and Wesser rivers. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. Along with metronymic names, which come from the name of the mother of the bearer, patronymics were one of the most popular early German name types. Stech was derived from the popular medieval Germanic personal name Stecho. The name Stech is also of local origin that is derived from the Old Germanic word "steck," which referred to a parcel of land. The steck was a tract of pasture land.

Early Origins of the Stech family

The surname Stech was first found in Westphalia and the lower Rhine region, where the name Steck came from aristocratic beginnings and gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, holding the title of counts in Dortmund, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Stech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stech research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1702 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Stech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stech Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Stech include Steck, Stech, Stechel, Stecher, Steckler, Steckel, Steckell, Steckle, Steckler, Stecker, Stecklen, Stek and many more.

Early Notables of the Stech family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stech family

For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them: Herman Stek, who sailed to New York in 1709. Benedik Stekle came to New York in 1709 with his wife and five children; Friedrich Steck and his four children arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754.

Contemporary Notables of the name Stech (post 1700) +

James Stech, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1956
Karel Stech (1908-1982), Czech landscape painter, graphic designer and illustrator
Milan Stech (b. 1953), Czech politician and former trade union leader, President of the Senate (2010-)
Marek Stech (b. 1990), Czech football goalkeeper