Surname Raß - Meaning and Origin

Tracing my Ancestral Past and Understanding the 'Raß' Surname through an iGENEA DNA test

Plunging into the exciting world of ancestral genetics, I took an iGENEA DNA test to understand the intricate past and history of my surname, Raß. What it brought to light was a tapestry of well-researched genetic traits, migration patterns and an enriched understanding of my own provenance.

C. Raß

Raß: What does the surname Raß mean?

The last name Raß is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. The name is derived from the middle high German word “rasse” which means ‘rat’ or ‘miller’. The name likely originated as an occupational or nickname-based surname referring to an ancestor who was a miller or someone who trapped rats. This last name could also refer to someone from a place called Ras or Rac, which may be either of two locations in Germany, appearing in records as far back as the early 1500s. Alternately, Rasse may also have derived from a type of sheepskin coat worn by low-income people.

The name Raß can also be found in records in different forms, such as Raas, Raß, Ras, Rass, Rasse and Rac. It is generally characterized as a habitational name, where people have belonged to a location or region for a long time. Habitational names are derived from places and geographical features. In fact, the name Raß can be found in different parts of the world, indicating it likely spread in German migrations throughout history.

Today, the Raß name is often found throughout Germany, France, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Australia and the United States, among other countries. It is a rare name but has been around for centuries. It is a reminder of the family’s past and proud ancestry in Germany, Austria and other countries.

Raß: Where does the name Raß come from?

The last name Raß is most commonly found in Germany, where it is estimated that there are around 1180 people with the surname. This surname is believed to have originated in Bavaria, the southernmost region of Germany, but is also found in other parts of the country.

Germany is a highly organized state and its people are very knowledgeable about their families and the surnames of their ancestors. Most of the time, people from a certain area of Germany belonging to the same last name are either related or have similar backgrounds. This is especially true for the last name Raß, since there are many instances where families with the same surname have similar histories.

The most common occupation among those with the last name Raß is farming, which suggests that the surname originated in Bavaria’s rural regions. Historically, these families usually resided on small farms, where they grew a variety of crops. Today, many of the descendants of these families still reside in Bavaria, but they can also be found in other parts of Germany, as well as in other countries.

Although it is difficult to trace the origin of the last name Raß, it is likely that it was derived from a last name that involved the word “Raß” in it. This is because the word “Raß” means "red" in German, and a person with red hair or a red complexion may have been given the surname. In addition, some people may have been named Raß because their parents were looking for a way to honor their ancestors.

Variations of the surname Raß

The surname Raß is of German origin, primarily found in northern Germany but can also be found in other European countries. The name is derived from the word "Rahe" meaning a fast, running river. Variants of the name include Raſſe, Raas, Ras, Raße, Räſſe and Raß.

The spelling Raße is the most common spelling in Germany and is a variant of the more commonly seen Ras in estern Europe. In Scandinavia the spelling Raas is most commonly seen and is derived from the German Räſſe.

Some surnames found in Germany and elsewhere that have the same origin as Raß include Rasche, Räschen, Raschke, Rauscher, Räuchler, RSGR, Rauschmayer, Rauschelbach, Rauschel, and Rasmecker. Some Hebrew surnames derived from the same origin include Rasco, Razz, and Ras.

The surname Raß is a German surname, and its prevalence and various versions are in line with the many dialectical differences that spread across Europe in times past. The surname is found in many places, with a range of spellings.

Famous people with the name Raß

• Jens Rasch: German football player and coach who has led teams such as Hertha BSC, FC Kaiserslautern, and 1. FC Union Berlin. He also has a great career as a professional field hockey player, and is a television commentator.
• Rupert Raß: Former world champion javelin thrower who competed for East Germany in the 1980s. He won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Rupert Rass Jr.: German field hockey player and coach and son of Rupert Raß, above. He competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, and coached for both the German and Dutch national teams.
• Ella Raß: German triple jump athlete who has competed at the European Championships and the World Championships in Athletics.
• Marc Raß: German discus thrower who has competed for Major League Hamburg and the region of Brandenburg.
• Jan Raß: German long jumper who was part of Hannover 96 in the 1990s.
• Jennifer Raß: German luger who participated in the 2004 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Lisa Raß: German skeleton racer who has competed in the World Cup, a few years after her twin sister Jennifer competed in luge.
• Jason Raß: German soccer player who has competed in the Regionalliga for SSV Jeddeloh and VfB Lübeck.
• Alexander Raß: German ski jumper and Olympic participant in 2006, 2010 and the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Other surnames

RaßkopfRaßmannRaßmusRaßmussRaßmußRaßmussenRaßmußen