Surname Kroß - Meaning and Origin
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Kroß: What does the surname Kroß mean?
The last name Kroß is a German occupational name derived from the Middle High German word "Kroß" which means "large person". This surname was likely given to someone who was considered to be particularly large for the time period, or perhaps the family had associations with persons of similar stature. This last name is quite rare in modern times, though it can still be found throughout Germany and some surrounding countries.
The etymology of the name points to the fact that the surname is of Germanic origin. It is likely derived from the Old High German term “Kruzze” which is a variant of the word "Kroß". This is a compound name made up of "Kruz" or "Krug" which means "fist" and "zze" meaning "big". Thus, the literal translation of the name is "big fist".
The current spelling of the name has remained unchanged since the days of the Middle High German "Kroß". Records have been found that trace the name back to the year 1398 and cite one Caspar Kroß of Germany. It has also been found in records as far back as 1666, when the town of Cologne was documented to have included the Kroß family name. Today, the surname is usually still associated with Germany and some surrounding countries, and it is considered to be largely exclusive to that region.
Overall, the last name Kroß is relatively rare and retains its historic etymology suggesting large stature. For those that bear this name today, it can be a source of pride in its enigmatic origin and long-standing antiquity.
Order DNA origin analysisKroß: Where does the name Kroß come from?
The last name Kroß is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. The meaning of the name is derived from the German word, kross, which means curly or wavy. It is not particularly common in either country and recorded as being found in limited numbers throughout Europe.
In Germany, the name is most common in the north in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, but it can also be found in Bavaria and Thuringia. In Austria, it is primarily found in the states of Vienna, Burgenland, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, and Styria.
The last name is also found in the United States, particularly on the East Coast in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. This is primarily due to German immigrants who came to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Currently, Kroß is a relatively rare surname. This is due in part to the surname being much more common a few generations ago when it was often Anglicized to “Cross”. Thus, many people who have the surname Kroß today are descendants of those who had it in the past but may not be aware of it.
Genealogy websites are useful in tracking down the name. By searching through census data, birth and death records, and marriage records, it is possible to identify family members and trace the heritance of the surname Kroß.
Variations of the surname Kroß
Kroß is a German surname that originated from the Middle High German word "Kresses" meaning "person who curls their hair". It is derived from the Middle Low German "kröschen" which itself was derived from the Old High German "krōs", meaning "distortion".
Variations in spelling of the surname Kroß include Kröß, Kross, Krossmann, Krößmann, Krose, Krosch, and Krossmann.
Kroß is also transformed into surnames with similar meanings in other languages. In Dutch, Kroß is transformed into Kroes, Kroezen, Kroezemans, and Kroesmanns; and to Kre documentation in Polish.
In British Isles, Kroß could transform to Cross for historical reasons, especially in the spelling of old documents. From the Cross surname also derived is the surname Crosse.
Other surnames spelled similarly to Kroß include Kropp, Krisch, and Kresse.
In America, many people with the surname Droß have changed the spelling to Drews or Drew as a form of anglicization. Some families have also chosen the spelling Drews with an 's' to differentiate their name from the similar surname Droß.
Whether spelled Kroß, Kross, Collier, Cross, Crosse, or Drews, these surnames all have their origin in the German surname Kroß.
Famous people with the name Kroß
- Andre Kroß: German actor best known for his roles in films such as Der Landarzt (1986) and Zurück in die Zukunft 3 (1990).
- Sebastian Kroß: German professional footballer who plays for Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
- Hermann Kroß: Austrian actor, singer and theatre director best known for his work in operettas, musicals and Hollywood films.
- Jürgen Kroß: retired German rower, who won four gold medals at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics.
- Sieglinde Kroß: Austrian photography editor, book and art publisher and art market historian.
- Harald Kroß: Austrian sculptor, whose works are exhibited in major galleries and museums in Europe.
- Hans Kroß: German architect and contributor to the modernisation of Prague’s architectural landscape.
- Katja Kroß: German Olympic alpine skier who competed in five Winter Olympic Games, including the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
- Daniel Kroß: German professional footballer who has played for clubs such as Werder Bremen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
- Ted Kroß: American freelance journalist who has worked as a foreign correspondent for a number of media organizations.