Surname Strater - Meaning and Origin
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Strater: What does the surname Strater mean?
The last name Strater is of Anglo-Saxon derivation. It is a habitational name derived from any of several places in England named Street or Stratt, from Old English stræt, meaning street. The form Stratré in the Domesday Book of 1086 is the earliest known record of the family name. It is thought that the original Straters were people who used to lead, conduct, or guide pioneers to their new homes.
The name likely then became a title among the people of the area and was used as a last name. Straters likely had a great sense of leadership or guidance, due to their initial involvement in helping out the pioneers and helping them settle in.
Throughout the centuries, variations of the name have occurred, such as Streater, Stratter, Strator, and Stratter. These names could also have been formed due to dialectal differences.
Strater is still a fairly common surname in regions where the original settlers might have set up their homes, such as in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, the United States, or Canada. For individuals with the last name Strater, pride can be taken in the fact that it is a name synonymous with leadership, guidance, and exploration.
Order DNA origin analysisStrater: Where does the name Strater come from?
The last name Strater is found in several countries in Europe and North America today. In the United States, the surname Strater is most common in the Midwest and the Southern states. It is particularly concentrated in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
The surname Strater is derived from the Germanic personal name Strator and means "army leader" or "soldier". It is first found in Northrhine-Westphalia in west central Germany and is likely an old name of the region. From there, it would have spread to other parts of Germany as well as other nearby countries.
Strater is also quite common in the Netherlands, particularly in the province of Friesland. It is a relatively common Dutch surname, second only to Janssen in the province. Large numbers of Straters can be found in Argentina as well, due to intermarriage between Dutch and German immigrants.
In Canada, the surname Strater is found primarily in Ontario and British Columbia. It is also quite common in parts of South Africa where many people of Dutch and German origin have settled. Strater is also found in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland and the Waikato region.
Overall, Strater is a relatively common surname that is found in many parts of the world today, particularly in countries with large numbers of German or Dutch immigrants or descendants.
Variations of the surname Strater
The surname Strater has various spellings and derivatives from its original form, including Strather, Strether, Strathern, Streater, Streathern, Strattan, Stratton and Straten. The origins of this surname are from the ancient English origin as a locational name from a place-name. Strater is thought to have derived from a place named Strathearn, located in the valley of the river Earn in Scotland. The earliest record of the Strater surname was of Peter de Stradata in 1219 in the "Calendar of Liberate Rolls", according to the International Genealogical Index.
In other parts of the world, the variants of Strater include Stratherne (in Scotland), Straten or Strather (in Germany), Stratt (in Norway) and Streter (in France). All these variations are derived from the base word Strether and signify an individual or family from the same ancestral location.
The surname Strater has been carried to other parts of the world by people with the family name, looking for a new life. It is also found in the United States and Australia, for example.
In addition to the many variations on the surname of Strater, the word also gave its name to a small village in South Perthshire, Scotland, in the late 16th century, called Strater. The village still exists and the name still remains in use there.
Overall, the surname Strater and its many variants and derivatives represent numerous families and individuals with a shared ancestor from the same region in the historical past.
Famous people with the name Strater
- Dan Strater, an American stand-up comedian, television writer, producer, actor, and podcast host.
- Jim Strater, an American football scout and executive.
- Willie Strater, an American football coach and college athletics administrator.
- Mark Strater, an American baseball coach and former minor league outfielder.
- Jack Strater, an American businessman and philanthropist.
- John Strater, an actor, writer and artist based in Los Angeles known for his recurring roles in Mad Men, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Detroiters.
- Malinda Strater, an American actor, writer, comedian and podcast host.
- Frank Strater, an attorney in Minnesota and former government lawyer who served as a US district judge for the District of Minnesota.
- Sean Strater, an American set decorator known for his work on films such as The Little Mermaid, Dragonheart and Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
- Laura Strater, an American author and the co-creator of the creative writing platform, Now Novel.