Crast last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Crast is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Crast.

Meaning of Crast

A variant spelling of the English surname Crass, possibly derived from a nickname for a rude or ill-mannered person.

Crast, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Crast surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Crast in America

Crast is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Crast surname appeared 103 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Crast.

The history of the last name Crast

The surname Crast is of European origin, tracing back to medieval Germany, specifically around the 13th century. It appears to have derived from the Middle High German word krast, which means "strong" or "vigorous." The geographic distribution of the surname originally has roots in what is now modern-day southern Germany and Swiss cantons.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Crast can be found in a manuscript from 1267 in the town of Ulm, indicating the name belonged to a local merchant. This manuscript is part of a larger collection of trading records that map the mercantile activities of the region during that period. Around the same time, a similar name, Craste, appeared in Basel city records, verifying the name's spread across adjoining regions.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the surname Crast was Johannes Crast, a theologian born in 1450 and who died in 1512, in Freiburg. He was known for his extensive commentary on religious texts and was a contemporary of the early reformers. His works were highly influential in sparking theological debate during the pre-Reformation period.

Another significant person with the surname was Wilhelm Crast, an artist who lived during the late 16th century (1575-1634). He is remembered for his exquisite woodcut illustrations which were popular in Strasbourg, a hub for printing and bookmaking at the time. His works illustrated numerous early natural science and medical texts.

In the late 17th century, Anna Crast, a herbalist from Zurich (born in 1658, died 1722), gained fame for her comprehensive knowledge of medicinal plants. Her manuscript, documenting local flora and their applications in traditional medicine, became a reference point for subsequent herbalists.

During the Age of Enlightenment, the philosopher Karl Crast (born in 1710, died 1783) emerged in Munich. Known for his rationalist viewpoints, he contributed several essays on ethics and political theory that were published in prominent philosophical journals of the time. His writings reflect the intellectual currents of the Enlightenment.

By the 19th century, the surname appeared less frequently in Europe. Nonetheless, Gustav Crast, an engineer from Vienna born in 1875 and who died in 1929, made significant contributions to the burgeoning field of electrical engineering. His research on alternating current greatly benefited early developments in electrical grids across Europe.

Over the centuries, the surname Crast evolved slightly in spelling and pronunciation but largely retained its original form. It remains a distinctive surname with historical ties to medieval Germanic regions and several noteworthy individuals in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Crast

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Crast.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Crast was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only90.29%93
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin0.00%0

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Crast was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Crast, please contact us.

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