Surname Cruße - Meaning and Origin
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Cruße: What does the surname Cruße mean?
The last name Cruße is of German origin and is most likely derived from the word (or words) 'Kruz' or 'Krusse' which translates to 'curly or curly-haired'. The spelling of the name can often vary depending on the region the family comes from, and there are a number of variations which include Cruse, Cruß, and Crüse.
Most families who bear this name are believed to have initially lived in the German region of Hanover. Another possible origin for the name is a German word 'Kruse' which can mean 'brave', 'desire', or 'violence'. It is also possible the suffix 'e' could have been added for a more specific meaning, such as 'valiant person' or 'brave one'.
The name, though rare, has likely been in existence since at least the 16th century. Records suggest that the earliest known descendant carrying this last name was a farmer from Ganderlucken named Hans Cruß. Since then, members of the Cruß family can be found primarily in German-speaking countries, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The name is an example of a patronymic surname, meaning it is based off a parent’s given name, and traditionally they have been used to identify a child as a descendant of the parent. A patronymic surname would normally be denoted by 'son', for example, Hans Cruß' son would be known as Hans Crußson. It would eventually morph into Cruße and be passed on from one generation to the next.
Order DNA origin analysisCruße: Where does the name Cruße come from?
The last name Cruße is most commonly found in Germany today. Records from the 1800's show the prevalence of the surname in central Germany, particularly around cities like Sondershausen and Potsdam. In the early 2000s, roughly 990 people in Germany had the surname Cruße, making it a relatively rare name in the country.
Other countries with significant numbers of people with the Cruße name include Austria, Switzerland, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the name Cruße is far less common, but there are some people with Cruße ancestors that live in states like New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Cruße is believed to have originally been a nickname derived from the German word “Kraus”. The nickname was likely given to those with curly or wild hair. As time passed, the name evolved and the spelling eventually moved from Kraus to Cruße.
Today, people with the last name Cruße often share a common ancestry. They usually trace their lineage back to a Cruße family that lived sometime in the 1800's in central Germany. Many of the Cruße's that made their way to America did so during the 19th century, when large numbers of European immigrants were seeking better opportunities.
Variations of the surname Cruße
Cruße is a German surname primarily of the Bavarian and Austrian regions. It is derived from the word “krus” or “kräuter” which translate to “herb” or “spice” in English. It has numerous variants and alternative spellings. Some of the more common variant spellings are Krüse, Krüse, Kruse, Krüss, Kruse, Kruß, and Kruss.
The surnames of the same origin that stem from Cruße are also numerous. These include the German surnames Krauss, Krausse, Kruse, Kruche, Kruss, Krouse, Kreus, and Krueger. The German surname Cruse is also somewhat related to the Cruße as it stems from the variant spelling.
In Holland, Cruse has similarly been abbreviated to Kruse and Kruze and is linked to a Dutch surname spelled Kruze or Kruysen. In the United States, Kruse, with slight variations, is the predominant spelling, although Kruse and Krusemeyer are also documented.
Other related surnames of the same origin are Reuge and Reuss. They are similar to the Cruße in that the root name is also derived from “kräuter” and “krus”. Reuge translates to “the ruler” and Reuss translates to “the councilor”, both of which were prestigious positions in early German society.
In general, it can be said that variations or spellings of Cruße are plentiful and include numerous other surnames of origin. These variations and other related names can also be found in regions other than Germany, including Holland and the United States.
Famous people with the name Cruße
- Pauline Vera Louise von Besserer Cruße (1874: 1961): German women's rights activist and painter.
- Naomi Cruße (1900: 1961): American poet and painter.
- George Cruße (1909: 1994): American author, scholar, and theologian.
- Luther Cruße (1675: 1732): German silversmith and engraver.
- Thomas Cruße (1768: 1818): German landscape painter.
- David M. Cruße (1939: 2008): American astrophysicist and professor.
- Emilie Cruße Kuitca (1927: 2012): Argentine geographer, economist, and educational reformer.
- Wilhelm Harry Cruße (1883: 1965): German civil servant, military officer, and rocket technologist.
- Freya von Moltke (born Freya Cruße) (1910: 2010): German anti-Nazi resister of World War II.
- Hugo Cruße (1875: 1936): German composer and conductor.