UK surname
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname referring to someone with curly hair, derived from the German word "kraus" meaning "curly."
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Krauss surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 59, ranked #34,401, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bristol City: St Michael and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Krauss is 110 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.9%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
59
2016, ranked #34,401
Peak year
1901
110 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Krauss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Krauss surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 2 | #34,135 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 109 | #21,611 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 56 | #34,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 53 | #34,630 |
| 2012 | modern | 54 | #34,608 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 59 | #34,401 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bristol City: St Michael, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Michael | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Krauss surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Krauss, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Krauss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Krauss household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Krauss is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Krauss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Krauss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Krauss has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the German word "kraus," which means "curly" or "crisp," likely referring to a person's physical appearance or hair texture. It was not uncommon for surnames to originate from descriptive nicknames in medieval times.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Krauss can be found in various German records and chronicles from the 13th century. One notable example is the mention of a knight named Heinrich Krauss in the Annals of Strasbourg, dating back to 1265. This suggests that the name had already gained some prominence among the nobility during that era.
In the 14th century, the Krauss surname appeared in several medieval manuscripts, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which contained legal documents and charters from the region of Saxony. This indicates that the name had spread across different parts of Germany.
As the name gained popularity, variations in spelling began to emerge, such as Kraus, Krauss, and Krausse. These differences were often due to regional dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Krauss surname was Johann Krauss (1553-1613), a German theologian and author from Saxony. He was renowned for his works on biblical exegesis and his contributions to the field of Protestant theology.
Another notable figure was Samuel Krauss (1866-1948), an Austro-Hungarian rabbi, and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Jewish folklore and literature. His extensive research on Jewish traditions and culture influenced numerous academics in the field.
During the 19th century, the Krauss surname gained further prominence with the rise of several influential figures. One such individual was Ferdinand Krauss (1779-1857), a German composer and music theorist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Württemberg.
Additionally, Karl Friedrich Philipp von Krauss (1796-1846) was a German botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of southern Africa. His expeditions and discoveries led to the naming of several plant species in his honor.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Krauss surname has also been associated with the German-American brewing industry. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several prominent breweries in the United States were founded or operated by individuals with the Krauss name, including the Christian Krauss Brewing Company in Philadelphia and the Krauss Brewing Company in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Krauss surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 32 Krauss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 32 | 4.90x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.83x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.03x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 5.46x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.43x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.27x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.91x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.22x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.91x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 6.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 12 Krauss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.27x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 12 | 42.27x |
| Bristol St Michael | 7 | 636.36x |
| Hammersmith London | 6 | 37.27x |
| Islington London | 5 | 7.89x |
| Leamington Priors | 4 | 98.52x |
| Newington | 4 | 16.57x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 4 | 43.29x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 7.19x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 5.70x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 16.23x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.51x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 2 | 70.18x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 32.52x |
| West Bromwich | 2 | 15.84x |
| Applethwaite | 1 | 232.56x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.50x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.73x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 12.11x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 7.19x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 4.39x |
| Offley | 1 | 344.83x |
| Radford Lenton | 1 | 454.55x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Krauss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Krauss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Krauss households.
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Krauss surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 59 in 2016. That gives Krauss a modern rank of #34,401.
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname referring to someone with curly hair, derived from the German word "kraus" meaning "curly."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Krauss bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.