Krall
A German surname likely from a nickname or related to a descriptive word, often linked with a curled, claw-like, or otherwise hooked form.
The #8,328 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 77,574 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Krall is generally treated as German in origin. In older surname collections, it is grouped with names that may come from a descriptive nickname rather than a place or occupation. The exact root is not fully certain from the excerpt alone, but it is commonly associated with a word meaning a claw, hook, or curled shape.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas and later appears in immigrant communities in the United States. Spellings and related forms may vary, especially where German names were adapted in English-speaking records. Because the surviving excerpt only mentions the name in passing, the finer details of its earliest development remain somewhat uncertain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In surname studies, names built on vivid physical images like claws, hooks, and curls were often originally nicknames before becoming hereditary family names.
From the historical record
“Cripps = Krebs, Croll — Krall, Crook = Krug, Grouse = Krause,”
— Studies in Pennsylvania German Family Names