Surname Straet - Meaning and Origin

Straet: What does the surname Straet mean?

The last name Straet is an Olde Dutch topographic surname for someone who lived on a road or street. The literal meaning of the name is “street” and is derived from the Olde Dutch word strata, which means “street” or “road”. The name first appears on record in 1208, when Johannes der Strate is mentioned in the St. Sigeberg charter of Cologne.

Straet is the most common spelling of this surname, though variations do exist, including Straat, Straete, Strate, Straten, and Stratten. It is notable for its far reach in terms of its geographical distribution; this surname has been found in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria, among many other places.

By and large, the meaning of the last name Straet is that of one who lived on a thoroughfare or road, with the literal translation of “street” or “road” still very much applicable today. It can also be interpreted to indicate someone who was a traveller, or someone whose ancestors were used to being on the move and journeying to new places.

Straet: Where does the name Straet come from?

The last name Straet is common today in many parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. Straet is a Dutch name derived from a kind of street found in many northern European cities. The term is derived from the old Dutch word 'Strate' meaning a kind of narrow road between shorelines, which was also referred to as a 'strandweg'.

The name Straet usually changes a bit in different regions; in Flanders – the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium – the name is often spelled Strate, Straete or evenStreut. In Germany, on the other hand, the name is usually spelled Strass, Strasse, Stratz or Straße. In Scandinavian countries, it's typically spelled Stråt and in the United Kingdom, Street.

Despite the various spellings, the last name Straet is still very common today, as it is among the top 150 surnames in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It is also popular throughout the German diaspora in Russia and other countries worldwide.

The name Straet is also shared by many famous personalities, including Dutch footballer Jermain Lens, German pop musician Hermann Lammers Meyer and British author Alistair MacLean. Another famous name bearer is English musician and actor Nick Straker.

Variations of the surname Straet

The surname Straet is derived from Dutch and German origins and it’s an occupational surname related to street makers. Depending on the country or language, this surname is known under different spellings. In Dutch, the surname is spelled Straet, Straat, Streut, Strät or Straeten, while in German it could be Sträter, Strater or Stratter.

In English, it is spelled as Straet, Street, Strate, Stratt, Strait or Stret. The surname is also known in French as Straet, Strate, Strattes or Strate. In Italy, it is spelled as Strata or Strati and in Portugal as Estrada.

Variations of the surname Straet also include Stre 20th, Strath, Strato, Straiter, Straith, Stras, Strase and Strayt. Related surnames include Streiter, Straite, Straight, Streight, Streiten and Straits.

In the United States, the most common spelling of the surname Straet is Street. The holders of the name Street ancestry mostly come from England and Wales. The most common variations of the surname Street come from Ireland and Scotland, with the most common spellings being Streight, Streit, Strite and Strett.

In Canada, the spelling of the Straet surname is mainly Straet, Street or Strett. In Australia, the most common spelling is Strait or Streat. In New Zealand, it’s mostly spelled as Strett or Strait.

Overall, the surname Straet is quite uncommon but it is found all over the world in some form or another.

Famous people with the name Straet

• Theresia de Waal Straet (1860-1951), Dutch poet and writer.
• Isabella de la Vieuville de Waal-Staërt van Heemstra (1883–1927), Dutch author and editor.
• Andries Straet (1646–1727), Dutch engraver.
• Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt (1567–1641), Dutch portrait painter.
• Jacob de Gheyn III (1565–1629), Dutch engraver and painter.
• Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom (1566–1640), Dutch marine painter.
• Geroge de la Tour (1593–1652), French painter.
• Gijsbert van Veen (1592–1641), Dutch engraver.
• Willem Buytewech (1591–1624), Dutch painter.
• Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem (1620–1683), Dutch painter.
• Michiel van Mierevelt (1567–1641), Dutch portrait painter.
• Abraham de Verwer (1608–1693), Dutch painter.
• Adriaen van de Venne (1589–1662), Dutch painter.
• Cornelis van Haarlem (1562–1638), Dutch painter.
• Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (1591–1624), Dutch painter.
• Bartholomeus Breenbergh (1599–1653), Dutch artist.
• Herman Killian (1738–1809), German composer, organist and violinist.
• Bernardus Van Straet (1812–1865), Dutch politician.
• Willem Daniel van Straeten (1708–1790), Dutch organist and composer.
• Willem Adriaan van Straaten (1660–1725), Dutch architect.

Other surnames

StraesserStraeßerStraessnerStraeter