Surname Grass - Meaning and Origin

Rediscovering My Roots Through iGENEA: A Journey into The History of The Grass Surname

Taking a journey into my past, I utilized iGENEA's DNA testing service, primarily to delve into the history and context of my surname, Grass. Through a non-invasive DNA sample collection process and a comprehensive and accurate DNA test using cutting edge genetic technologies, the results have shed fascinating light on my roots in Western Europe and possibly the Jewish ancestry.

E. Grass

Grass: What does the surname Grass mean?

The last name Grass is of German origin and is an occupational or topographic surname. The name may have been derived from the Middle High German word "gras," meaning grass or pasture. It was often given to a person who lived near a meadow or grassy pasture, or to someone who worked as a grazier or herdsman. Such a person's occupational connection with grass (like a farmer or gardener who dealt with grass) or association with an area known for its grassy landscape would have resulted in them being referred to as someone from or of the "Grass." As with many surnames, the use of Grass as a last name was a way to better identify individuals when more people began to accrue the same given names in an area. Today, Grass is a relatively common surname in Germany and across the globe due to migration and diaspora communities.

Grass: Where does the name Grass come from?

The surname Grass is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word "gras", signifying someone who lived near grassland or meadow. The Middle High German language was prevalent from the 1050 to 1350 AD, suggesting the surname's existence since that approximate period.

While the Grass surname found its roots in Germany, it has spread all over the world due to migration, colonization, and other historical events. Today, the surname Grass is most prevalent in the United States, specifically in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. It's also common in Germany, as expected. However, in terms of population density, it is most frequent in Luxembourg. Various genealogy resources indicate additional concentrations of the name Grass in France, Canada, and Australia.

Nonetheless, the most famous bearer of this last name was Gunter Grass, the 1999 Nobel laureate in Literature from Gdansk, Poland, which suggests that the surname has broader distribution in Europe as well.

Please note that the distribution of a surname can change over generations based on socioeconomic factors, migration patterns, and cultural assimilation.

Variations of the surname Grass

The surname Grass has several variants, spellings, and related surnames due to regional dialects, translations, and migrations. These include Gras, Graß (with a German sharp S or Eszett), Grasse, and Grassi, which is a variant common in Italian-speaking regions.

The surname Grass can also be a derivative of the given name "Gratien" like Grassey or Grasset. The rendering of these names varies across regions and languages due to local phonetic pronunciations and spelling practices. Grass could be written as Graes in Old German.

There are also similar surnames that could be of the same origin, like Graesser or Graeff which come from professions or geographical locations as 'Grass' originally referred to someone who lived by a grassy area or has a profession related to grass (like a herb seller).

Grassick and Grassot are additional spellings found around Scotland and France, respectively. Similarly, in some regions, the prefix "Van" or "De" may be added, creating variations like Van Gras or De Gras.

Surname variations for Grass even extend into Eastern Europe, with examples like the Polish Grasewicz and Grasys from Lithuania. These names, however, might be associated with different etymological origins.

It’s crucial to consider the likelihood of divergent roots when researching surname origins.

Famous people with the name Grass

• Davide Grasso: Chief Product Officer at Dropbox, formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Samsung Electronics.
• Kevin Grass: Emmy Award-winning Animation Director and Filmmaker.
• William Grass: Author, Founder of Independent Films, Inventor of automated movie preparing systems.
• Dieter Grass: Award-winning Austrian visual artist.
• Timothy William Grass: English operating system programmer and Professor at Trinity College, Dublin.
• Aaron Grass: American football coach and former player.
• Erick Grass: Academic researcher and professor of Physics at the Max Planck Institute, Germany.
• Hans Grass: Swiss mathematician and leading figure in algebraic geometry.
• Klaus Grass: German glass sculptor and painter.
• Ludwig Grass: Budapest born composer and conductor in 1930's Europe.
• Annika Grass: German film director and screenwriter.
• Alec Grass: Australian film director and producer.
• Henry Grass: Canadian painter, sculptor and video artist.
• Martha Grass: Designer and owner of the popular fabric company, Martha Grass Designs.
• Paul Grass: Music video director and fashion photographer.
• Lena Grass: German actress and singer.
• Jonathan Grass: British mandolin virtuoso and composer.
• Jasper Grass: Musician and music producer.
• Patrick Grass: French jazz musician and composer.
• Frederick Grass: American author and editor, known for his work at the National Endowment for the Arts and award-winning novels.

Other surnames

GraserGräserGrashofGrashoferGrashoffGrashuberGraskampGraskemperGrasmäderGrasmäherGrasmaierGrasmairGrasmederGrasmeherGrasmehrGrasmeierGrasmeirGrasmeyerGrasmuckGrasmückGrasmueckGrasmuellerGrasmüllerGrässerGrassetGrassettGrasshofGrasshoffGrassiGrassick