Preparation for the World Cup 2006 – Section A.1
Section A: Intricacies of the German Language for International Soccer Fans, Lesson 1: German Surnames
Most German surnames have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. A name identified a specific person and later a group of persons; at first through verbal usage, it was later fixed through writing. The largest group and the most easily recognizable names are those derived from the vocation or profession of the first bearer. They tell you what the first bearer did for a living
A good example is the surname of FC Bayern Munich midfield player Bastian Schweinsteiger (18 caps for Germany). His surname "Schweinsteiger" is a compound word consisting of:
Schwein - a pig
Steiger - noun derived from the verb “steigen” – to climb, to mount, in this context used to indicate copulation (i.e. the stallion mounts the mare - der Hengst besteigt die Stute). Thus, the most appropriate translation would be something like pigstalker!