The Steffens surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,947 people carried this name — #6,818 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 59,500 people counted. That is up 4% from 4,774 in 2000.

See Steffens on the map Look up another surname

Share

In Belgium’s population register

At least 151 people named Steffens live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Liège.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Liège 115
Antwerp 17
Flemish Brabant 8
Hainaut 6
Limburg 5

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 121 people named Steffens live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Misiones 57
Buenos Aires Province 39
City of Buenos Aires 25

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

97 people named Steffens live in Switzerland.

They live in 13 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 25
St. Gallen 13
Valais 11
Aargau 9
Basel-Stadt 7
Bern 7
Thurgau 6
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 44 people named Steffens.

Most of them — 24 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Moselle.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 24
Moselle 11
Tarn 3
Nord 2
Alpes-Maritimes 1
Aube 1
Gard 1
Paris 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

52 people named Steffens is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 52

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Steffens in American newspapers,
1896–1915.

Newspaper page from New Iberia Enterprise And Independent Observer carrying the name Steffens
New Iberia Enterprise And Independent Observer 1915-11-13
Newspaper page from New Iberia Enterprise And Independent Observer carrying the name Steffens
New Iberia Enterprise And Independent Observer 1915-10-30
Newspaper page from The Madisonian carrying the name Steffens
The Madisonian 1896-11-07

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 44,763 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Steffens in Australian newspapers,
1880s–1980s.

739 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Steffens. The most, 243, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 3.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 547
New South Wales 115
Victoria 33
South Australia 19
Western Australia 6
ACT (Canberra) 4
Tasmania 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Steffens.

Who carried it

People named Steffens,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Peter Steffens
    Peter Steffens 1818–1879 · politician
  • Johann Steffens 1560–1616 · composer
  • Henrik Steffens 1773–1845 · writer
  • Henrik Steffens 1773–1845 · writer
  • Jan Steffens 1800–1826 · naval officer
  • Carl Heinrich Steffens 1801– · painter

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Steffens,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,791 records

1,791 records of the Steffens name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 859
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 595
  • Other U.S. records 337
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Arnold J. E. Steffens

    Born 1923 in Missouri. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; farmer from Benton County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Trinity Cemetery, Cole Camp, Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Andrew J. Steffens

    Born 1906 in New York. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; driver from Kings County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1972, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Meta Steffens

    Arrived at New York in 1897 aboard the Normannia from Hamburg, aged 20; servant. From Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,791 records for Steffens in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands5,640 records

5,640 records of the Steffens name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3,049
  • Dutch population registers 2,023
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 568
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Frederik Steffens

    Married in 1900 in Zaandam; bargeman. Died 1938 in Koog aan de Zaan, aged 59.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Maria Steffens

    Married in 1851 in Zutphen; knitter. Died 1881 in Zutphen, aged 85.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Geert Hendrik Steffens

    Married in 1915 in Schoonebeek; farmer. Died 1964 in Schoonebeek, aged 80.

    Open Archives, Drents Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5,640 records for Steffens in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Germany1,437 records

1,437 records of the Steffens name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,436
  • German emigration and citizenship files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Steffens

    Born 1888; from Dorthausen, M.-Gladbach. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 15 November 1917; then reported missing in the list of 3 December 1918 (Infantry Regiment No. 28).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Steffens

    Emigrated to the East Indies in 1890.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Nikolaus Steffens

    From Arbach, Adenau. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 9 June 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 235).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,437 records for Steffens in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Australia65 records

65 records of the Steffens name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 40
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 22
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 3
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hugo Steffens

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Austral, aged 30; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Johan Steffens

    Arrived in Queensland in 1864 aboard the Susanne Godeffroy, aged 24.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Christian Steffens

    Carpenter of Bendigo, Victoria; died 1928.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 65 records for Steffens in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Norway24 records

24 records of the Steffens name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Karen Steffens

    Census of 1910: Dronningensgate, Moss; midwife, born 1854 in Larkollen i Rygge Smaalenene.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Wilhelm Alexander Steffens

    Census of 1910: Bergs prestegaard, Berg; parish priest, born 1878 in Fredriksstad.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 24 records for Steffens in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France16 records

16 records of the Steffens name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Irene Hildegard Steffens

    Born 1944 in Germany; died 1997 in Bastia (Corse).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Theodore Francois Steffens

    Born 1915 in Metz (Moselle); died 1978 in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 16 records for Steffens in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand11 records

11 records of the Steffens name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ada Louisa Steffens

    Died 1924, aged 51; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Martin Steffens

    Died 1928; buried at Oxford Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 11 records for Steffens in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Canada7 records

7 records of the Steffens name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 4
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 2
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Egbertus Hermanus Steffens

    Buried in 1990 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 38.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph Steffens

    Died 1934 in Millville, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 2 of 7 records for Steffens in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Belgium5 records

5 records of the Steffens name in Belgium
  • Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 4
  • Belgian population registers 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Josefine-Hubertine Steffens

    Died 1968 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Armand Steffens

    Born 1899 in Kortijk.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Kortrijk (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Steffens in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Steffens.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Steffens is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Steffens volume
Scroll to Top