What is "steiger"

Steiger is German for "climber" or "mine manager" and may refer to:

• Steiger (mining), an important official in the early days of mining in Europe who managed the pit or mine
• Steiger (automobile company), a former German automobile manufacturer
• Steiger Tractor, an American tractor manufacturer
• Steiger Award, a German award

Notable people with the surname Steiger include:

• Anna Steiger (born 1960), British opera singer
• Brad Steiger (born 1936), American writer
• Eduard von Steiger (1881–1962), Swiss politician
• Emil H. Steiger (1871-1921), American politician
• Evgeny Steiger, Russian ice hockey player
• Harwood and Sophie Steiger, American textiles and painters
• Isabelle de Steiger (1836–1927), English painter
• Janet Dempsey Steiger (1939–2004), American politician
• Joan Benedict Steiger, American actor
• Joel Steiger (born 1942), American television producer, director and writer
• Johann Rudolf de Steiger (1778–1834), Swiss nobleman
• Kurt and Karl Von Steiger, professional wrestlers
• Lieuwe Steiger (1924–2006), Dutch footballer
• Niklaus Friedrich von Steiger (1729–1799), Swiss politician
• Paul Steiger (born 1942), American journalist
• Rand Steiger (born 1957), American composer
• Rod Steiger (1925–2002), American actor
• Rolf Steiger, Austrian footballer
• Sam Steiger (born 1929), American politician and journalist
• Ueli Steiger (born 1954), Swiss cinematographer
• William A. Steiger (1938–1978), American politician
• William R. Steiger (born 1969), worker at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Steiger company was founded in 1914 as Maschinenfabrik (engine manufactory) Walther Steiger & Co. by the Swiss engineer Walther Steiger (1881–1943) in Burgrieden near Ulm, Germany. In 1921 it became a limited company (Steiger AG). During its short life the firm produced circa 3,000 vehicles.

A Steiger (literally "climber") is the title of a mine manager or mining foreman, used in German-speaking Europe. He bears responsibility for part of the mine and the people subordinated to him. The name is derived from the former role of a Steiger, who continually had to climb into and out of the pit. The Steiger is celebrated in a very popular German mining song the so-called Steigerlied (Glückauf, Glückauf; der Steiger kommt …).