Surname Crause - Meaning and Origin
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Crause: What does the surname Crause mean?
The last name Crause is of German, Dutch, and French origin. It is believed to be derived from the German “Kraus” or “Krause”, which is derived from the Old German “Kraus” or “Krause”, meaning “curly-haired” or “curly-headed”. The Dutch version of the name, “Krauw” is derived from the Middle Dutch “Krauw” or “Krauwse”, which means “crooked”. It is likely that this name would have described a person with curly hair or a bent nose.
The French version of the name, Crause, is likely to have been adapted from the patronymic name, “Perrot”. This French-based surname is thought to have derived from the Latinized form of “Petrus”, meaning “rock” or “stone”, likely referring to a solid and strong person.
The Crause surname is likely to have been taken on by stone masons and craftspeople. It is possible that this was handed down for generations as a family surname as many skill-based trades were often practised in families. There is also the possibility that the name was adopted by people who moved to a new country as immigrants, in search of a better quality of life.
Today, the Crause surname is found in many parts of the world, indicating a long history of migration and adaptation to different lifestyles. The name is associated with strength and integrity, reflecting the traits of ancestors from generations past.
Order DNA origin analysisCrause: Where does the name Crause come from?
The last name Crause is historically a French name, and is believed to be derived from the old French ‘cref’. The oldest surviving family of Crauses were Huguenots who left France during the Protestant Reformation and emigrated to Germany and other parts of Europe.
Today, there are few people who bear the surname Crause, mainly in Germany and France. According to Ancestry.com's Family Name Map, Crause is most concentrated in Germany, though it has been passed down from those who emigrated to Holland, Switzerland, England, the US and Canada. In Germany, Crause is common in Moselle, Saarland, and Baden-Wurttemberg.
The US has the second-largest number of Crause family members. It is primarily found in New York, Pennsylvania, and California. According to the US Census, Crause is equally widespread throughout the US, with a concentration of Crauses in California in particular.
In France, Crause is most common in the regions of Alsace, Lorraine, and Rhone-Alpes, particularly in the department of Bas-Rhin and Haute-Rhin. Additionally, the name is found in areas bordering France, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.
It should be noted that Crause is an uncommon name worldwide, and that the people bearing it may not necessarily be related by blood. This means that it is likely that the Crause name has been passed down through other families, such as those of nobility, or those who have adopted it as a part of their family name.
Variations of the surname Crause
The Crause surname is likely of Dutch origin derived from the Dutch word “kruis”, meaning “cross”. It is mainly found in South Africa, where it is a common surname among the Afrikaner or Dutch-descended population. The surname may also be spelled as Krouse, Kruse, Kraus, Krause, Krüse, Krüs, Kruys, Krayse, and Krayce. Variants of the Crause surname might also appear as Crouse and Cruso.
Variants of the Crause surname could also be found in other countries with strong ties to the Dutch-speaking world. For example, it may be found as Krouse, Kruse, or Krause in regions such as the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Frisia. Similarly, descendants of Dutch immigrants to North America may also take such spellings as Crause, Crouse, or Cruso in the United States and Canada.
The Crause surname may also be found in other nations with substantial Dutch linguistic or colonial influence, such as the Caribbean, South America, and Indonesia. The same variants – Crause, Crouse, or Cruso – may appear in these countries in addition to Krouse, Kruse, or Krause. In some nations, such as India, the surname may also appear as Krayce.
Many surnames, including Crause, are subject to regional and other variations in spelling. It is not uncommon to find a family who spells their surname in a way that has become customary for them, rather than following a singular standard spelling. Other variations could simply be due to misspelling or mishearing over time.
Famous people with the name Crause
- Celeste Crause: South African politician and former leader of the Women’s Forum of South Africa
- Anke Crause: South African actress and cinematographer
- Fana Crause: South African anti-Apartheid freedom fighter
- Nico Crause: South African journalist and author
- Pierre de Villiers Crause: South African Olympic athlete and boxer
- Jakobus Jakobus Crause: South African professional rugby player
- Alwyn Crause: South African cricketer and former captain of the South African national cricket team
- John Crause: South African politician and former president of the prohibitionist party
- Wayne Crause: South African sculptor and painter
- Willem Crause: South African modernist architect