Surname Mittelstraß - Meaning and Origin

Mittelstraß: What does the surname Mittelstraß mean?

Mittelstraß is a German surname that roughly translates to “middle street”. It typically originated from families living in a street in the middle of a village or town - as opposed to those on the edge or outskirts, who often had variants of the name, such as Altstrasse (old street) or Neustraße (new street). It could also be derived from a family living near the center of an enclosed area such as a market or castle.

The name has also been found in areas where German immigrants moved to, including parts of the United States and Canada as well as countries in South America and other parts of Europe.

Over time, the spelling of the surname has varied - often anglicized to fit local dialects or reflect the pronunciation of the name in the immigrant's native language. Variations have included Medlestrait, Mittlestadt, Mittelstrass, and Mittlestreet.

The spelling remains, however, a reflection of the surname’s origins and its literal meaning - “middle street”. It is contained in the names of countless streets, castles, villages, and monuments throughout German-speaking countries, as well as those the world over made call home by the people who have borne its name.

Mittelstraß: Where does the name Mittelstraß come from?

Mittelstraß is a common German last name that is still quite popular in parts of Europe today. The name can be found mainly in Germany and other German speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland. As of July 2020, the name was the 199th most common name in Germany, according to the Geneanet Global Family Tree. Romania, Slovakia, and Denmark also have a fair number of people with the surname. The name is also quite popular in Northern America, mainly in the United States of America.

Some areas in the United States have higher concentrations of Mittelstraß than others. Illinois, Arizona, California, New York, and Ohio are among the states with the highest population of people carrying the Mittelstraß name. It is quite common among the Amish, Mennonites, and other German descendants in the US.

The name can also be found in other places outside of Europe and North America, mainly in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa. Some of these other countries have Mittelstraß descendants that can be traced to German ancestry as well.

In short, the surname Mittelstraß is most popular in German speaking countries, as well as Scandinavian nations and other parts of Europe. It has spread to many other countries in the world, most notably the United States, where German immigrants have likely established strong roots.

Variations of the surname Mittelstraß

Mittelstraß (German for "Middle Street") is a relatively common surname from Germany. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Mittlestraß, Mittelstrass, Mittelstrasse, Mittelstrooß, Middlestraß, Middlestrass, Middlestrasse, Middlestrooß and Mydelstraß. These various spellings have come about due to differences in regional dialects and differing pronunciations over the years.

The name Mittelstraß is believed to have originated from an area where a middle street was a prevalent feature. In some instances, the surname was given to a person who worked in a location associated with a middle street, such as a market or inn where the street began and ended. Alternatively, someone may have been given the surname if they were born or lived in a household that was located on a middle street.

The use of the prefix “Mittel” in the surname likely suggests the location was of “middle” importance, or located between two larger communities, such as a smaller village or town. People with the last name Mittelstraß may also have been of lower-middle class origins, which may explain their residence in such a location.

Although the surname is typically associated with German origin, the spelling variants can be found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although these countries may have adopted the surname during the 19th or 20th centuries, the spelling is likely to have changed slightly due to how the name was pronounced in each location.

Famous people with the name Mittelstraß

• Ludwig Mittelstrass: a German philosopher and hermeneuticist who is best known for his works on logic, dialectic and ontology.
• Konrad Mittelstraß: a German linguist and philologist who studied languages and dialects of the Yeniseian-Uralic language family.
• Wilhelm Mittelstraß: a German philologist and educational theoretician who specialized in Germanic languages.
• Thorsten Mittelstraß: a German footballer who played for Schalke 04.
• Gerd Mittelstraß: a German musicologist and composer who specialized in Renaissance music.
• Elisabeth Mittelstraß: an Austrian film director and screenwriter.
• Reinhard Mittelstrass: a German philosopher and reality theorist.
• Erich Rüdiger von Mittelstrass: a German mathematician who specializes in spatial analysis.
• Robert Mittelstraß: a German television director and author who has been active since the 1970s.
• Anna Mittelstraß: an Austrian skydiver and BASE jumper.

Other surnames

Mittelstrasser