KRAUSE
Krause is a surname of German origin that entered common usage in Europe during the Middle Ages. The name derives from the Middle High German word kraus, meaning “curly” or “frizzy,” and was originally a descriptive nickname for a person whose hair was noticeably wavy.
The earliest linguistic form of the word is recorded as Krus in Old Middle German. From this a pseudo‑Germanic nickname, Krause, came into use. The family name is related in meaning to the English surnames Crisp and Cripps, all of which refer to a quality of hair, though the etymological paths differ.
Variant spellings of the surname are common. The forms Kraus, Krauss, Krauze and Kruse all appear in historical records. The earliest surviving spelling, that of *Edle Von Kraus*, was dated 1681 in Vienna, Austria, during the reign of Emperor Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire (1668‑1785). Later, records from Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Ireland provide further evidence of the surname's spread. The name was first noted as belonging to a Viennese nobleman, and it appears in Vienna, Basel, Berlin and Nuremberg. It is uncommon in Britain, although a notable bearer, Rev. William Krause (1796‑1852), was born in Ireland, served in the British Army at Waterloo, and later entered Trinity College, Dublin before taking Holy Orders.
The family has been granted a coat of arms. The blazon describes a shield quartered blue and red. In the first and fourth corners a lion rampant holds a mullet, while in the second and third a white heraldic rose is shown barbed and seeded. The crest is a demi‑lion rampant of gold standing out of a ducal coronet, as recorded in Rietstap’s Armorial General.
Today the surname is predominantly associated with German‑speaking communities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and neighbouring regions. It remains a surname that continues to be borne by individuals of German descent worldwide.
Typical given names associated with the Krause surname
Male
- Alexander
- David
- James
- Jonathan
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Petrus
- Philip
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Astrid
- Carol
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Katarzyna
- Maria
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Sherine
- Victoria
- Wendy
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Krause in...
Braille
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Morse
-.-.-..-..-....
Semaphore
There are approximately 660 people named Krause in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around ten in a million people in Britain are named Krause.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Germany
Language of origin: German
Famous people named Krause
- Peter Krause - American actor
- James Krause - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.