Surname Kren - Meaning and Origin
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Kren: What does the surname Kren mean?
The last name Kren is a German and Czech surname derived from a word meaning “bend” or “crook.” It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a person who bent or worked with timber. Over the centuries, the name has spread throughout central and eastern Europe.
The earliest records of the name Kren can be traced back to 1277. Then, it was spelled as Kraine or Kram. The original spelling of the name was probably Krën, but it became adapted to different languages and nationalities. For example, regions of Germany and Austria commonly wrote the name as Kren or Krein.
Kren families have origins in countries like Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. They are believed to have originally come from the region of southeastern Germany.
The meaning behind the name Kren suggests that the family was resilient and determined. Its history gives insight into the hard-working and resourceful protocols of the family members. Modern-day holders of the last name Kren usually have roots in southwestern Europe, or they may come from other regions of Germany or the Czech Republic.
Order DNA origin analysisKren: Where does the name Kren come from?
The surname Kren is primarily found in Austria and Switzerland. It is likely of either Slavic or Germanic origin. It is generally thought to refer to a "follower", under the meaning of the pre 7th Century Gothic personal name "Krani".
In Austria, the surname is most commonly found in the Tyrol region, in the western part of the country, and in Vienna, the capital city. It is also well represented in the Swabian region of Germany, in particular Baden-Wurttemberg.
In Switzerland, the surname Kren is most common in Basel and Zurich. It is also found in Bern and Geneva, but in lesser numbers.
Kren is not a particularly common surname throughout Europe; however, it is more prevalent in certain parts of Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.
In the United States, the surname Kren is uncommon. It is most often found in states with large German-speaking populations, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Kren surname may also be encountered in other parts of the world, as some of its bearers have emigrated throughout the world over the centuries. It can be found in parts of Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Kren
The surname Kren is of German origin and has several spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from a short form of the Germanic name Kremer – from the Old Germanic elements ‘Krema’ meaning ‘merchant, trader’, and ‘mari’ meaning ‘famous one’.
Some modern spelling variants of Kren include Krein, Kraine, Krayne, Krains, Kreinz, Kreine, Kreinisk, Kreins, Kreines, Krayned, Kren, Kreinsch, Krainsky, Cren, Cran, Kron, Kreneff, Krayn and Cranz.
Surnames of the same origin as Kren include Kram, Kramer, Krammer, Lichenstein, Krämer, Krieger, Kropf, Cramer, Kramp, Kremp, Kreymer, Kreitz, Krietz, Kreidler, Kreiner, Kretz, Krimm, Crimm and Kring.
Other variants of Kren with different roots include Kranz, Krane, Krantz, Kränze, Kraenzel, Kreimeyer, Krenzel, Kreuzer and Krey.
In addition to being a surname, Kren has also become an English given name, a popular name in Germany, and recently been used in the United States for the first time.
Famous people with the name Kren
- Arnold Kren: a German revolutionary in the 1790s, a founder of the Karlsruhe's armed force of volunteer citizens.
- Fedor Kren: a Slovenian philosopher and scientist who founded the philosophical school of positivism in Slovenia.
- Emilia Kren: a Slovakian painter, draughtsman and printmaker, best known for her urban portraits of the 'second city of art' Bratislava.
- Roman Kren: a Czech writer and translator, credited with modernizing the Czech language in the 19th century.
- Vladimir Kren: an Austrian physicist who was a pioneer of X-ray tomography and is considered one of the fathers of optics.
- Ernest Kren: a Slovenian primary school teacher who fought for the Slovenian independence during the early 1900s.
- Karl Kren: a German composer and conductor who created the Krenische Suite for symphonic orchestra.
- Felix Kren: a Swiss businessman and founder of the Kren-Arminius Company, an engineering, manufacturing and shipping conglomerate.
- Steve Kren: an American professional football player who played for the Washington Redskins from 1974-1991.
- Max Kren: an Austrian composer who composed symphonies, orchestral writing, and operas between the mid-1930s to 50s.