Surname Straß - Meaning and Origin
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Straß: What does the surname Straß mean?
The surname Straß is of German origin, suggesting that it originally denoted someone who lived by or near a road or a street. Straß is derived from the German word for street, which is "Straße".
The spelling of the surname may also have been influenced by the spelling of the German place name Straßburg, meaning "Street-town", which was the original spelling of Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region in France.
The German town of Strassen, located near the French border, is considered to have been the source of the surname Straß. It is possible that individuals from this town used the surname Straß or other nearby variations such as Strasse in order to distinguish themselves.
Today, Straß is a common and well-known surname found throughout Germany. It is also found in areas of Europe with a large German-speaking population, such as Austria, parts of Switzerland, and the United States.
In Germany and other countries, members of the Straß family often share a sense of unity and identity with one another. There are several Straß-focused social networks that have been established, allowing people with the surname to stay connected and interact with each other online. Additionally, Straß descendants can, in some cases, trace their ancestry back to Strassen, Germany, and learn more about their surname’s history.
Order DNA origin analysisStraß: Where does the name Straß come from?
The last name Straß is most commonly found in Germany in areas like Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is of German origin, derived from the old German word “Strass”, meaning “road, street, or pathway”.
The families with this last name likely had a relation to roads and paths either because they lived on one, ran businesses related to them, or even held some sort of association with them. Given its geographical locations, Straß families could have originated from Austria too, although this is uncertain.
Aside from Germany, Straß can also be found in countries including the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in some parts of France, Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, although to a lesser extent.
In the United States, Straß is mainly concentrated in states like California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. In the 21st century, many people with the last name Straß have been found to be of Hispanic and Latin American descent in the US.
At present, the Straß last name is not extremely common, but it has been documented throughout its long history. It serves as a reminder for those carrying it of the shared heritage of people in Europe and even beyond.
Variations of the surname Straß
Straß is an uncommon German and Jewish surname derived from the German word straße meaning “road” or “path”. The variants and spellings of this surname include Strasse, Strass, Sträßer, Strässer, de Strass, Straser, Strassen, Strasser, Straßer, and Stasser. In the Czech Republic it is spelled Straš, Strás, or Stráš. In Austria, the variant is Strasser, while in Switzerland it is Strassen or Strasser. The surnames of the same origin are Straßmayer, Straßburger, Friedstraß, Raffstraß, Straßl, Straßerle, Straßburg, and Straßmann. It is common in the northern states of Germany, especially in Lower Saxony and Berlin. It is also common among Ashkenazi Jewish populations.
Famous people with the name Straß
- Jacob Straß: also known as Hajo von Straßenstein, a German poet and songwriter.
- Fritz Straß: a German composer and musical director who worked in the operetta genre.
- Linda Strass: an American professional drag racer.
- Heinrich Straß: a Germanportrait painter, illustrator and restorer.
- Alexander Straß: a German bass-baritone opera singer.
- Jürgen Straß: a German athlete and coach, best known for his success in track and field.
- Sergiu Straß: a Romanian association football player and manager.
- Karl Straß: a German stage, film and television actor.
- Ursula Strass: a German sculptor, installation and video artist.
- Bernd Strass: a German sculptor and restoration expert.
- Georg Straß: a German composer and conductor who wrote the music to the 1957 operetta, Die Fledermaus.
- Johannes Straß: an Austrian musicologist and composer.
- Nana Straß: a German-Israeli actress, writer and director.
- Urs Strass: a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist and Jungian analyst.