Surname Strause - Meaning and Origin
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Strause: What does the surname Strause mean?
The surname Strause is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German term meaning ‘stranger’ or ‘outsider’. The earliest known bearer of this name belonged to a Jewish family living in the medieval Rhineland region of Germany. It is believed that the family adopted the name in order to distinguish themselves from their non-Jewish neighbours. The Strause family name is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is also known to have spread to other parts of Europe, including Britain and the United States.
Throughout history, the surname Strause has undergone many changes in spelling, from Strasse, Strouse and Strauss to the current spelling of Strause. Today, Strause is a relatively uncommon surname in Britain, although it is more frequently found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The name Strause often associated with Jewish ancestry, but it has also been used by non-Jewish families from the Rhineland area, as well as French and Scandinavian families who have changed the spelling from Straus or Strasse. Those who bear the name Strause are generally regarded as independent thinkers and are known to be courageous in pursuing their goals. They have also been known to stand up for their beliefs and value independence and freedom in life.
Order DNA origin analysisStrause: Where does the name Strause come from?
The last name Strause is fairly common throughout Europe and the United States today. In the United States, Strause is the 995th most common surname among those currently living. It is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, where it ranks 90th in popularity. It is also in the top 500 surnames living in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Delaware.
In Europe, Strause is most frequent in Germany, where it is the 341st most common name. It is also a relatively common surname in Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, where it makes the top 1,000 names living today.
Strause is an Ashkenazi Jewish name derived from the German words "strasse" ("street") and "hausen" ("house"). It was likely originally used to denote someone who lived on a particular street, or who was the owner of a house. It may have also been used to denote someone with the occupation of a street-paver. Over time, the surname has spread worldwide, with families bearing the name likely originating in multiple countries throughout Europe.
The Strause surname may also have Hungarian origins, where it appears in records as both "Strausz" and "Strauss." In Hungary, the Strause name may come from an old German word "strüsse" that refers to a small stream.
Variations of the surname Strause
The surname Strause has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. Common variants of the name include Strauß, Strauss, Strouse, and Straus.
Strauß is a German variant of the Strause surname, meaning "ostrich"; the single S in the spelling reflects a contraction of the double S used in the original German spelling. Strauss is a variant spelling which originated in Austria, and is often used as a given name as well. Strouse is another variation used in both German and English, and its origin is disputed; some say this variation comes from a slurred form of Straus, while others believe it comes from an old German spelling of the name Troost.
Related surnames of Strause include Strouss, Stroesser, and Streussner. These variations are either derived from the original form of Strause, or are a result of mispronunciations or errors in record-keeping.
Other similar surnames exist due to languages and regions, such as de la Tróuese (Gallo; France), de Tróuse (French), Troes (Dutch), Struys (Esperanto), Struus (Dutch and Estonian), Struse (Dutch and Scandinavian), and Struss (Ugric).
Overall, the surname Strause can have many different spellings and variants depending on the language family, region, and time period of origin. However, all variants and spellings of the name can typically be traced back to the same original source.
Famous people with the name Strause
- Olga Strause: a Lithuanian-born modern artist.
- Julius Strause: a German violinist and composer in the Romantic era.
- Maximilian Strause: an Austrian ballet dancer and choreographer.
- Charles Strause: a Hollywood special effects expert, co-founder of the effects company Dream Quest Images.
- Henry Strause: a Hollywood cinematographer.
- Nate Strause: a Wisconsin politician and former mayor of Eau Claire.
- George Andrew Strause Jr.: an artist, photographer, filmmaker and writer from Rhode Island.
- Wanda Strause: a Canadian theater and film actress.
- Joseph Strause: an American lyricist and composer of popular songs in the early twentieth century.
- Gustav Strause: a German conductor and composer.