As far as I have it the origin of the German surname "Stehle" is the surname "Stahl", which means steel, and was given to an ancestor who probably was a steel worker. Subsequent variations like "Staehle" and "Stähle" evolved - my greatgrandfather on father's side, Johann Georg, spelled his surname "Stähle".
(Eingesendet von Volker Stehle)