Strauss
A German surname most often linked to the “ostrich,” and sometimes to a crest, tuft, or plume image.
The #2,604 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,308 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Strauss is generally traced to German words for “ostrich,” and by extension to a vivid nickname or emblem image. Historical sources also connect it with Middle High German and Old High German forms meaning “crest,” “tuft,” or “plume,” suggesting a figurative sense of something feathered or showy. In other words, it likely began as a descriptive byname rather than a place-name or occupation.
History
The name is well established in German-speaking areas and appears in English-language surname dictionaries as a German immigrant name. Later references also note the spelling Strouss as a pronunciation-based variant. Because German surnames were often formed from animal names or striking physical traits, Strauss fits a broader medieval naming pattern.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
German surname dictionaries sometimes gloss Strauss as “ostrich,” while others emphasize “crest” or “tuft,” showing how one medieval nickname could be understood in more than one image.
From the historical record
“estate, etc.] STRAUSS (Ger.) a nickname = Crest, Plume : see the Appendix of Foreign Names. Strawson 196 Strongbow”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)