Kreger
A surname with German roots, likely from a maker’s or place-based name that was later Anglicized in spelling.
The #8,055 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 75,102 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kreger is most likely a German surname, but its exact source is not certain from general evidence alone. It may be a variant spelling of a German occupational or regional name related to forms such as Krieger, Kreger, or similar dialect spellings that shifted as families moved into English-speaking countries. The underlying meaning would depend on the original German form, so the name should be treated as a likely German adaptation rather than a securely fixed single-word derivation.
History
The surname appears in German-speaking areas and later in countries with German immigration, especially the United States. Like many German surnames, its spelling could vary considerably when families were recorded by English-speaking clerks, which helps explain forms such as Kreger alongside other close variants. Modern bearers in America often descend from immigrant lines whose original surnames were simplified or altered over time.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because German surnames were often written phonetically in immigrant records, one family line can end up with several near-identical spellings across generations.