KRAUSS
Krauss is a surname of German origin that can be found throughout Europe and beyond. Its earliest references appear in 17th‑century Vienna, where a record dated 1681 lists an Edle Von Kraus and survives under the contemporary spelling Krauss.
The etymology of the name stems from the Middle High German word kraus, meaning “curly” or “frizzy”. In the same linguistic tradition, the Old Middle German form krus was used as a nickname for a person with notably curly hair. Short variants such as Kraus and Krause, together with less common forms like Krauz and Kruse, have all been documented in continental records, particularly in Berlin, Nuremberg, Basel and other German‑speaking cities.
Early heirs to the name established a heraldic identity that has been preserved in the family arms. The shield is quartered, with the first and fourth quarters bearing a blue and red background, each featuring a lion rampant holding a mullet, while the second and third quarters display a white heraldic rose barbed and seeded. The crest consists of a demi‑lion rampant, all gold, rising from a ducal coronet. These arms have been listed in Rietstap’s Armorial General and indicate the long‑standing use of the surname within the nobility of the Holy Roman Empire.
In Britain the name is less common but was held by Rev. William Krause (1796‑1852), who was born in Ireland, served in the British Army at Waterloo and later entered Trinity College, Dublin before taking Holy Orders. His presence demonstrates that the surname crossed continental borders into the British Isles during the 19th century.
There is also a Jewish origin for the surname, derived from the German word Kranz (wreath, crown) or from the Latin root of the Roman military title Krutanus, a low‑ranking cavalryman whose name evolved into the personal name Krauss in German. In Jewish communities the name may have conveyed a status symbol, often indicating lineage or distinction and is one of many common surnames in the diaspora. Today it is found throughout North America, South America, Australia and the Middle East.
Statistical evidence shows that Krauss remains a prolific surname in Germany, where it is currently the ninth most frequent family name. It is particularly common in the region of Schleswig‑Holstein and maintains a wide distribution in neighbouring Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Migration patterns have spread the name to the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil, where it appears among both German‑descendant and Jewish communities.
The surname has produced numerous spelling variations over the centuries: Krauskopf, Krausz, Krauß, Krause and others, many of which emerged during the Middle Ages within German‑speaking areas. The prefix von or the suffix de was occasionally appended to indicate noble standing, although it is now primarily employed in formal contexts. Through centuries of linguistic adaptation, the spelling with a double “s” remains the most widespread in contemporary usage.
Typical given names associated with the Krauss surname
Male
Female
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 Krauss in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 89 people named Krauss in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Krauss.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Germany
Language of origin: German
Famous people named Krauss
- Alison Krauss - American bluegrass-country singer-songwriter and musician
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.