Krause
A German occupational surname referring to someone with curly hair or a person of fine stature.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 40,342 Americans carry the last name Krause. That puts it at #1,009 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 11.77 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 8,496 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Krause 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
40K
1 in 8,496
Census rank
#1,009
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
11.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
35K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 34,722 bearers of the surname Krause in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 11.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1009th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Krause, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Krause
The surname Krause originated in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "kraus," which means "curly" or "crisp," likely referring to someone with curly hair or a distinctive hairstyle. The name was initially used as a descriptive nickname before becoming an inherited surname.
The earliest known record of the name Krause can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is Johannes Krause, a landowner mentioned in a charter from 1295.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name Krause appeared in various records and manuscripts across different regions of Germany, including the Hanseatic League records from cities like Lübeck and Hamburg. It was particularly prevalent in the northern and central parts of the country.
In the 16th century, the Krause name gained prominence with notable individuals such as Martin Krause (1529-1603), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another notable figure was Johannes Krause (1553-1615), a German mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the development of logarithms.
The 17th century saw the emergence of Johannes Krause (1624-1699), a German jurist and author who wrote extensively on legal matters. His works were widely referenced and influential in the field of law during that period.
In the 18th century, Johann Gottfried Krause (1737-1806) was a German philosopher and author who wrote on topics related to ethics and metaphysics. His works influenced the development of German idealism and were widely studied by scholars of his time.
Moving into the 19th century, Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (1781-1832) was a notable German philosopher and polymath who developed a philosophical system known as "Krausism." His ideas had a significant impact on Spanish and Latin American thought, particularly in the fields of education and social reform.
Throughout history, the surname Krause has been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as Krausnitz, Krausendorf, and Krausenhof, which were small towns or villages in different regions of Germany. These place names often reflected the presence of individuals with the Krause surname in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Krause
Among Census respondents with the surname Krause, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Krause 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 Krause surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- Black or African American0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Krause 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 | #1,009 | #1,009 | 0.0% |
| Count | 34,722 | 34,722 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 11.77 | 11.77 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Krause bearers went from 34,722 to 34,722 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,009 to #1,009.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Krause
FAQ
Krause surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Krause?
The surname Krause holds position #1,009 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 40,342 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 11.77 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Krause surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Krause, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.