Surname Mauß - Meaning and Origin

Mauß: What does the surname Mauß mean?

The surname Mauß is of German origin. It is a variant of the surname Mauss, which is derived from the German language word ‘Maus’, meaning mouse. This surname was likely first used in the medieval period as a sign of endearment; an obvious reference to the small, yet deftness agility of the mouse. It is most commonly associated with the south-west portion of Germany, especially Bavaria.

Mauß was first recorded in 1221, when it appeared in the document Zuger Urkundenbuch. Over the years, the spelling of this surname changed from its original form, Mauss, to Maus, Mausser and finally to Mauß.

As the spelling evolved, so did the meaning behind the surname. In the 16th century, many variants of the name had religious connotations, as most people associated the surname Mauß with members of the Dutch Mennonite church. It is also thought to be a variant of the German Moeß, which can be traced to the Dutch word ‘moess’ meaning ‘straw’.

Today, the surname Mauß is not particularly common in Germany. However, it can be found in many other regions, as many immigrants from Germany brought the name to their new homes overseas. There are a number of prominent individuals with the name, such as Erwin Mauss, a renowned historian and author and August Mauss, a German philosopher and theologian.

Mauß: Where does the name Mauß come from?

The surname Mauß is still relatively common around some parts of Germany today. According to a 2014 study of surname popularity conducted by the University of Mainz in Germany, the surname Mauß ranked 729th out of 29,000 distinct family names.

The name is most prevalent in cities and towns across the central and southern regions including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The most concentrated pockets of people with the surname reside in cities such as Siegburg and Ahrweiler in western Germany and Regen and Neu-Ulm in southern Germany.

The name itself has Germanic origins and is derived from the old German word "Mauz" which meant resident. It may have originated from a tiny hamlet or farmstead which served as a dwelling for the Mauß family.

The popularity of the surname Mauß has likely been aided by its use in several notable surnames such as "Maußer," "Maussner," and "Mausser.” A notable person with the surname is German-born astronomer Hermann Carl Mauß, who was born in Berlin in 1888 and worked at the Institute of Applied Mathematics in Bonn during the early 1900s.

In modern times, the popularity of the surname Mauß has gradually declined due to emigration. Many people with the surname Mauß have moved overseas to other parts of Europe and even the United States in search of better opportunities. By contrast, many people of German descent born in the US have adopted the surname, likely accounting for its presence today in some parts of the US.

Variations of the surname Mauß

Mauß is a German surname derived most likely from the culture of the old Palatinate region. It is generally believed to originate from the Middle High German word maus meaning mouse, and its variants such as Maus, Mauße, Maussen and Maussner can also be found.

Mauß itself is mostly spelled with a single s and double u, occasionally with double ss or with any combination of s and u, such as: Mous, Mouss, Mousse, Mauce, Maz, Mauss, Maucee, Mause, Mausse, and Mausser.

The earliest form of this surname could have first been found in the Palatinate region as early as the 17th century, typically as Maussen, but by the 19th century, variations of the name could be found all throughout Germany.

Mauß can also be traced to the United States due to the Palatine migrations, with small clusters in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the Midwest regions. It is still present today, with over 550 people bearing the surname in the US.

Variants of Mauß can also be found in other parts of the world such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and even as far away as Argentina.

The name has also spawned many variants, such as Mausser, Maussner, Mauscher, Mauser, Mause, Mautz, Maurer, and Moser. Nevertheless, Mauß remains the most recognizable form of the surname.

Famous people with the name Mauß

• Sophie Mauss: German presenter and actress.
• Wernhard Mauss: Austrian physicist.
• John Mauß: United States Army general.
• Karel Mauss: Czech-born Canadian athlete.
• Hermann Mauss: German mathematician.
• E. W. Mauss: German painter and regionalist.
• Paul Mauss: French scholar and sculptor.
• Hans Mauss: German ornithologist and zoologist.
• Heinrich Mauss: German philosopher and theologian.
• Johann Mauss: Austrian painter.
• Willy Mauss: German director.
• Luise Mauss: German actress.
• Johann Baptist Mauss: Austrian physicist.
• Adolf Josef Mauss: German bassoonist.
• Marie Mauss: German aviator.
• Marge Mauss: German fine art photographer.
• Anton Mauss: Swiss officer and politician.
• Michael Mauss: German educator.
• Oskar Mauss: Austrian architect.
• Thomas Mauß: German footballer.

Other surnames

Mäußnest