English
Steele
Steele comes from Middle English stele ‘steel’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *stek- ‘to be firm, stand fast’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stek-‘to be firm, stand fast’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*stahlą‘steel’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*stahlas *stahlī‘steel weapon’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150stēle
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500stele‘steel’
- EnglishtodaySteele
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stek-‘to be firm, stand fast’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*stahlą‘steel’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*stahlas *stahlī‘steel weapon’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150stēle
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500stele‘steel’
- EnglishtodaySteele
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *stek- ‘to be firm, stand fast’
Today it means
name An English and Scottish surname originating as an occupation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *stek- / Steele