Show ContentsStalnaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A multitude of prestigious family names, such as the surname Stalnaker, were formed in the lands which became the modern German state of Prussia, known for its beauty, industry and military power. However, in the medieval era, Prussia was fragmented and inhabited by numerous barbarian tribes, who fought amongst themselves for control of the land. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms, which were established after the fall of the Roman Empire, changed repeatedly. The region that came to be known as Prussia was roughly divided between the territories of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia and East Prussia. The Stalnaker family emerged in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Stalnaker family

The surname Stalnaker was first found in Prussia, where the name Stahl was closely associated in early medieval times with the feudal society which became prominent throughout Europe. The name later emerged as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches in Bavaria and Austria. Members of this family became noted for their involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Stalnaker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stalnaker research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1684, 1687, 1694, 1716, 1734, 1750, 1773, 1799 and 1860 are included under the topic Early Stalnaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stalnaker 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 Stalnaker include Stahl, Stahler, Staal, Stahle, Stahli, Stal, Stall, Stahlin, Stahelin, Stahlberg, Stalberg, Stahlburger and many more.

Early Notables of the Stalnaker family

Notable figures of the time with the name Stalnaker were Marguerite De Launay, Baronne Staal (1684-1750), French author; and George Ernst Stahl (1660-1734), a German chemist and physician, who served as court...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stalnaker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stalnaker Ranking

In the United States, the name Stalnaker is the 7,574th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Stalnaker migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Stalnakers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Stalnaker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Maud Stalnaker, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Germanic" from Liverpool, England [2]
Stalnaker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • G. W. H. Stalnaker, aged 43, who arrived in New York in 1905 aboard the ship "Prince Arthur" from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia [2]
  • Frank D. Stalnaker, aged 55, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Fort Hamilton" from Hamilton, Bermuda [2]
  • Cecilia Stalnaker, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Fort Hamilton" from Hamilton, Bermuda [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Stalnaker (post 1700) +

  • Elizabeth Stalnaker, American professor of philosophy and psychology at West Virginia University, eponym of Stalnaker Hall located there built in 1918
  • Robert C. Stalnaker (b. 1940), American educator, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • S. Wise Stalnaker, American politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Braxton County, 1907 [3]
  • Randolph Stalnaker, American Democratic Party politician, Secretary of State of West Virginia, 1881-85 [3]
  • Norman Stalnaker, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1952 [3]
  • Laurie Stalnaker, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for California, 2012 [3]
  • Jack Vincent Stalnaker (1922-2008), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Gilmer County; Elected 1952 [3]
  • J. L. Stalnaker, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Braxton County, 1940 [3]
  • Earl H. Stalnaker (1920-2005), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Randolph County, 1955-58, 1965-74 [3]
  • Charles L. Stalnaker, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Weston, West Virginia, 1947-48 [3]
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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