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

Kross, 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 Kross surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kross in America

Kross is the 26695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kross surname appeared 912 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kross.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kross to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kross

The surname Kross is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Krug" or "Kruger," which referred to an innkeeper or one who operated a tavern or public house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kross can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Kross was listed as a tavern owner in 1542. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to individuals whose livelihood revolved around the hospitality industry.

In the 17th century, the name Kross appeared in various church records and tax registers across the German states, indicating a widespread presence of the family name. Notably, a Johann Kross was mentioned in the parish records of Bamberg in 1673, while a Michael Kross was recorded as a landowner in the village of Schönau in 1689.

As the centuries progressed, the Kross name found its way into other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong German influence. One notable figure was Friedrich Kross, a German-born composer and musician who lived from 1727 to 1792 and is credited with composing several operas and orchestral works.

In the 19th century, the Kross surname gained recognition in the literary world with the Austrian writer Ida Kross (1827-1892), whose works explored themes of social injustice and the plight of women in the era. Another prominent individual was the German industrialist Karl Kross (1848-1919), who founded one of the earliest automobile manufacturing companies in Germany.

As immigration patterns shifted, the Kross name also found its way to other parts of the world. One notable example is the American actor and musician Kross Asgill (1893-1968), who gained fame for his roles in several Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Throughout its history, the surname Kross has been subject to various spellings and variations, such as Krus, Kruss, and Krusse, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional dialects of the areas where it was prevalent. However, the core meaning and significance of the name remain rooted in its German origins and association with the hospitality industry of centuries past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kross

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kross was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kross has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Kross was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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