Staal is a Dutch surname, cognate to German Stahl, meaning "steel". Though possibly also of patronymic origin, it may be a metonymic occupational surname referring to a smith. Notable people with the surname include: Abraham Staal (1752–1804), Dutch Mennonite teacher and political activist Boele Staal (born 1947), Dutch D66 politician Ede Staal (1941–1986), Dutch singer-songwriter Egor Egorovich Staal (1822–1907), Russian diplomat, ambassador to the UK 1884–1902 Eric Staal (born 1984), Canadian ice hockey player, brother of Jared, Jordan and Marc Flossie Wong-Staal (born 1947), American virologist and molecular biologist Frits Staal (born 1930), Dutch philosopher and Indologist Gert Staal (born 1956), Dutch design publicist Herta Staal (born 1930), Austrian film actress and singer Jacob Staal (1913–1981), Dutch commando during World War II Jan Frederik Staal (1879–1940), Dutch architect, husband of Margaret Jared Staal (born 1990), Canadian ice hockey player, brother of Eric, Jordan and Marc Jesper Staal (born 1972), Danish sprint canoer Jonas Staal (born 1981), Dutch visual artist Jordan Staal (born 1988), Canadian ice hockey player, brother of Eric, Jared and Marc (1777–1853), Baltic German general of the Russian Army Kim Staal (born 1978), Danish ice hockey player Marc Staal (born 1987), Canadian ice hockey player, brother of Eric, Jared and Jordan Margaret Staal-Kropholler (1891–1966), Dutch architect, wife of Jan Frederik Marguerite de Launay, baronne de Staal (1684–1750), French author Pierre-Gustave Staal (1817–1882), French lithographer , illustrator and draughtsman Viktor Staal (1909–1982), Austrian actor See also Staal Jørpeland IL, a Norwegian Sports club Staal Aanderaa (born 1931), Norwegian mathematician Staël Stahl Stal (disambiguation) References Dutch-language surnames Occupational surnames