KRAUS - Surname Meaning and Family History

The last name Kraus is a descriptive German surname meaning "with curly hair," from the Middle High German krus, meaning "curly."

Surname Origin: German

Alternate Surname Spellings: KRAUS, KRAUß, KRAUSS, KRAUßE, KRAUSSE, KRUSE, KRAUSE

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KUHN - Surname Meaning and Family History

By Kimberly Powell

Famous People with the Kraus Surname

• Adolph Kraus - Jewish leader and lawyer
• Charles A. Kraus - American chemist
• Gertrud Kraus - pioneer of modern dance in Israel
• Hans Werner-Kraus - German U-boat commander
• Joseph Martin Kraus - classical composer
• Georg Melchior Kraus - German painter

Where is the Kraus Surname Most Common?

According to surname distribution from Forebears, the Kraus surname is most common in Germany, where it ranks 52nd in the nation, followed by Austria (95th), Luxembourg (170th), and Czech Republic (199th). Krause with the "e," however, is even more popular in Germany—coming in as the 27th most frequent surname.

WorldNames PublicProfiler indicates a similar distribution, with the greatest percentage of individuals named Kraus in Germany, followed by Austria and Luxembourg. German surname distribution maps at Verwandt.de show Kraus as most common in southeastern Germany in areas such as Forchheim and Augsburg, while Kraus is much more frequent in northwestern and western Germany, around Hannover and Recklinghausen.

Genealogy Resources for the Surname KRAUS

• Meanings of Common German Surnames: Uncover the meaning of your German last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common German surnames.
• Kraus Family Crest - It's Not What You Think: Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Kraus family crest or coat of arms for the Kraus surname. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.
• The Kraus/Krause DNA Surname Project: Individuals with the Kraus surname or variants such as Krause are invited to participate in this group DNA project in an attempt to learn more about ancient Kraus family origins. The website includes information on the project, the research done to date, and instructions on how to participate.
• KRAUS Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Kraus ancestors around the world.
• FamilySearch - KRAUS Genealogy: Explore over 1.1 million results from digitized historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Kraus surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• KRAUS Surname Mailing List: Free mailing list for researchers of the Kraus surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages.
• DistantCousin.com - KRAUS Genealogy & Family History: Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Kraus.
• GeneaNet - Kraus Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Kraus surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.
• The Kraus Genealogy and Family Tree Page: Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Kraus surname from the website of Genealogy Today.