Steele Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Steele last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Steele last name
Meaning of the Steele last name: hard as steel, or dweller by a steep slope. Steele comes from a nickname meaning hard as steel, or from a word for a steep slope. It is common in Scotland and northern England. A curious detail: the name was often given to a strong or stubborn person.
Arms associated with the Steele name
Scottish clansmen traditionally wear a badge drawn from their leader's arms, and the Steele name belongs to that clan tradition.
Get your full Steele family history
This is only a glimpse of the Steele story. The full Steele history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Steele coat of arms. Get the full Steele report.
Steele name FAQ
What does the Steele name mean?
Hard as steel, or dweller by a steep slope. Common variants include Steel, Stell, Stahl.
Where does the Steele surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Steele coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Steele coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.