Surname Kraut - Meaning and Origin
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Kraut: What does the surname Kraut mean?
The last name Kraut is of German origin. It is derived from the word kraut, which means cabbage in German. The word was originally used as a nickname for people who cultivated or sold cabbage. Over time, the word became associated with Germany, due to its large production of sauerkraut, a common German food.
The use of the word Kraut as a last name is also connected to its usage as an ethnic slur, since it is a term typically used to refer to German people. This has given rise to disdain among some people whenever it is used as a last name or in reference to German culture and heritage.
Overall, the last name Kraut indicates a connection to Germany and to the people and food of German culture. The name Kraut is thus often viewed with positive connotations, in spite of the negative history associated with its use as an ethnic slur.
Order DNA origin analysisKraut: Where does the name Kraut come from?
The last name Kraut is most commonly found today in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is derived from the German word "kraut" which originally referred to the cabbage plant.
The name is most often used as a surname but is also used in some regions as a given name. In Germany, it is considered the second most common surname, behind Müller. It is also not uncommon to see the given name translated into English as "Krautie" or "Krautman".
Kraut can be found outside of Europe as well. In the United States, the name is found among communities of German immigrants who came to the country in the 1600s and 1700s. It can also be found in places like Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil.
The name Kraut is still quite common today in European regions and those that receive large numbers of German immigrants. It is not as common in areas outside of these regions, although it is still possible to find it from time to time.
Variations of the surname Kraut
The surname Kraut is derived from the German word meaning "cabbage" and can be written a variety of ways. The most common spelling is Kraut but it can also be spelled as Krauth, Krauß, Kraus, Krause, Krausen, and Krahn. The related surname variant Kratz is also commonly found.
Kraut is found mainly in families with a German heritage and origin. Due to migrations out of Germany, many of the German and related surnames are now found throughout the world.
In the United States, Kraut is commonly found among those of German ancestry, while Krausen is generally found in families with more recent immigrations from Germany.
In the English-speaking world, many families bearing the Kraut surname have Anglicized it to Kraft, leading to confusion with the other English spellings of the same surname (Craft, Croft, Crat). Similarly, individuals of German heritage who have settled in French-speaking countries have often had their surname changed to Kraut, Crôt or Crote.
Variants of Kraut in other languages are also found. In Dutch, the surname is spelled Kraai while in Sweden, it is often found as Kråw. In Latin-speaking countries, Kraut family names often appear as Krausus, Krautius, or Kraw marijuana related to the surname.
Surnames can often provide information about ancestral origins and family history, and learning the various forms and spellings of the Kraut surname is a great step in understanding more about family history.
Famous people with the name Kraut
- Karl Kraut: a German astrophysicist and former general director of the European Southern Observatory.
- Artur Kraut: Polish architect and urban planner.
- Rachel Kraut: American actress and theater professor at the University of Chicago.
- Hermann Kraut: Austrian historian and author of books on the history of the Habsburg Monarchy.
- Paul Kraut: American lobbyist and former Chief Deputy Whip of the United States House of Representatives.
- Barbara Kraut: American award-winning author and illustrator of several best-selling children's books.
- Dr. Philip Kraut: American physicist and former president of California State University, Los Angeles.
- Robert Kraut: American psychologist and professor of psychological and brain sciences at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Nathan Kraut: American physicist, mathematician, and computer scientist, known for developing algorithms for fast numerical solutions with sparse matrices.
- Christian Kraut: German author, journalist, and former foreign correspondent for the German news magazine Der Spiegel.