Surname Straaß - Meaning and Origin
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Straaß: What does the surname Straaß mean?
Straaß is a German surname which means either of two things: either "street" (as in the German word for a pavement) or "district" (as in "district council"). The first recorded use of this surname was in the year 1546, when Conrad Straaß was recorded in the work, Aalen memoria.
The origin of this surname is thought to be either High German or Austrian. It is believed to have started as a toponym, derived from a place-name which could have been a settlement, farm or hamlet. The Straaß surname is most common in the western part of Germany, especially in the Eifel and Rhineland regions.
The Straaß surname is not a common one, but those who do have it may have ancestors who were peasants, craftsmen, or merchants. This surname may also indicate rural ancestry, or possibly a noble or official family associated with a diplomatic post.
Overall, Straaß is a surname that is relatively uncommon, but which is likely derived from a place-name. It may indicate a family who had a distinguished and varied history, or may just be an indication of rural origins. Regardless of what it means, those with this surname can take pride in their ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisStraaß: Where does the name Straaß come from?
The last name Straaß is most commonly found in Northern Germany today. It is most prevalent in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in the area around Flensburg and in Hamburg. Straaß is also quite common in the eastern parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. While Straaß is an uncommon last name in most of the rest of Germany, it is not unheard of. Migration within Germany may have led to a few Straaß families being found in some of the more Western states, but numbers are likely to be smaller.
The family can also be found in Austria, especially in the state of Tyrol, where it is moderately common.
Usually of Germanic origin, Straaß is thought to be derived from the Middle High German “strix”, which means “byway” or “dirt road”. The surname may therefore have originally referred to a person who originally lived near such a road.
Numerous Strauss family members have made notable contributions over the years such as the German politician Martin Straß (1851-1909) or the Austrian composer Johann Strauss (1825-1899).
The name Straaß is a common one within Germany’s borders today, but its true origins and meaning remain unknown and the subject of continued speculation.
Variations of the surname Straaß
The surname Straaß is a Germanic surname derived from the word ‘straße’ meaning ‘street’. It is a locational surname, denoting someone who lived on or near a certain street. The archaic spelling is Straß and is still used in some regions to this day. Variants of the surname include Strasse, Strass, Straße and Strassen.
The Straaß surname is also seen in various spellings, derived from local dialect and other languages. In Austria, the name Straße is common, while in Switzerland and Germany, the name Straßburger is descended from the original Straaß family. In the Netherlands, the name Straau is found, and in Prussia the form Strasse is used. Other translations of the surname include Strassen in Hesser, Strassberger in Bavaria, Straat in Holland, Strase in southern Germany and Stras in Alsace-Lorraine.
Variants of the Straaß surname include Straus, Strauß, Strauss, Strausz, Stauss, Strausser, Straussman, Strausman, Straußberger, Straub and Straubi. Most of these variants are found in different parts of Germany and other German-speaking regions.
The Straaß surname is also found in other parts of Europe, especially in countries with a large German-speaking population such as Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands, but also in countries which had significant German populations, such as Poland and Alsace-Lorraine. The Straaß surname is also found in the United States, where it is usually spelled Straus.
Famous people with the name Straaß
- Wolfgang Straaß: Wolfgang Straaß is a singer and actor from Berlin, Germany. He was part of the "Munich Rock Band" as well as a solo artist in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Anton Straaß: Anton Straaß is a German ensemble conductor and pianist. He is the artistic director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and has been in charge since 2000.
- Friedrich Straaß: Friedrich Straaß was a composer and conductor from Mettmann, Germany who wrote many musical works, including church music, operas, and dramatic works.
- Rudolf Straaß: Rudolf Straaß was a German novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He wrote many contributions for theater, film, radio, and television throughout his career.
- Franz Straaß: Franz Straaß was an Austrian composer, active during the 19th century. He was known for his works related to the waltz and for participating in musical competitions.
- Waldemar Straaß: Waldemar Straaß was a composer and conductor, active in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote numerous of music albums and was a member of "Deutsche Komponisten- and Dirigentenvereinigung."
- Egon Straaß: Egon Straaß was a composer, conductor, and music critic from Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He wrote a number of works and produced many works for radio plays and theater.
- Erwin Straaß: Erwin Straaß was a composer, arranger, and conductor from Germany. He wrote more than a thousand works, including marches, symphonic works, and choral music.
- Emmy Straaß-Wittig: Emmy Straaß-Wittig was a German actress and singer. She was a member of Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's and the Munich Kabarett. She released a few solo recordings in the 1970s and 80s.
- Martha Straaß-Müller: Martha Straaß-Müller was a German operatic soprano and actress. She launched her acting career after being trained at the prestigious Berlin State Opera and sang in numerous plays in the 19th century.