Glaus
An Americanized German surname meaning "belief" or "faith" in European origin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Glaus. That puts it at #44,356 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Glaus surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#44,356
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
485
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 485 bearers of the surname Glaus in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 44356th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Glaus, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Glaus
The surname Glaus originates from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland and Germany, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the medieval German word "glanz," meaning "brilliance" or "shine," which could have been used as a descriptive name for someone with a bright or shining personality.
In Switzerland, the earliest recorded instance of the Glaus surname can be found in the canton of St. Gallen, where a certain Hans Glaus was mentioned in a church register in 1589. The name also appeared in the neighboring canton of Appenzell, with a Johannes Glaus listed in a census record from 1612.
As the name spread throughout the German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, including Glauss, Glauz, and Glauß. One notable early bearer of the name was Johann Glaus (1598-1668), a Swiss theologian and professor at the University of Basel.
In Germany, the Glaus surname can be traced back to the 17th century, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. A prominent figure from this era was Georg Glaus (1645-1712), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Bavaria.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Glaus name continued to appear in various German-language records and documents. For example, Johann Glaus (1757-1828) was a Swiss-born painter and engraver who worked in Vienna, while Johann Baptist Glaus (1808-1879) was a German architect and builder known for his work on churches and other structures in Bavaria.
Another notable bearer of the Glaus surname was Johann Jakob Glaus (1776-1847), a Swiss politician and jurist who played a key role in the formation of the Swiss federal state in the early 19th century.
In more recent times, the Glaus name has been carried by individuals such as Franz Glaus (1899-1983), a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council, and Eugen Glaus (1878-1945), a Swiss architect and urban planner who designed numerous buildings and urban developments in Zurich and other Swiss cities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Glaus
Among Census respondents with the surname Glaus, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Glaus bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Glaus surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Glaus surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,356 | #44,356 | 0.0% |
| Count | 485 | 485 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Glaus bearers went from 485 to 485 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #44,356 to #44,356.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Glaus
FAQ
Glaus surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Glaus?
The surname Glaus holds position #44,356 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Glaus surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Glaus, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.