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

Pross, 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 Pross surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pross in America

Pross is the 35812th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pross surname appeared 627 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 Pross.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pross 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 Pross

The surname "PROSS" is believed to have originated from Germany, and it likely dates back to the 16th century or earlier. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "protz," which means "boasting" or "arrogance." This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone who exhibited these traits.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "PROSS" can be found in a 17th-century German church registry from the town of Wittenburg. The entry, dated 1642, mentions a Johann Pross who was a local merchant.

In the 18th century, the name appears in several records from the Prussian region of Germany. For example, a Christian Pross was born in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) in 1725 and served as a soldier in the Prussian army during the Seven Years' War.

As the name spread throughout Europe, various spelling variations emerged, such as "Proß," "Pros," and "Prosz." These variations were often due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

One notable individual with the surname "PROSS" was Friedrich Pross, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1816 to 1892. He was best known for his detailed landscapes and cityscapes depicting scenes from around Germany and other parts of Europe.

Another prominent figure was Karl Pross, a German writer and journalist who was born in 1887 and died in 1975. He was a vocal critic of the Nazi regime and spent several years in concentration camps during World War II for his political views.

In the 19th century, the name "PROSS" also appeared in records from other European countries, indicating that some individuals with this surname had migrated or emigrated from Germany. For instance, a James Pross was born in London, England, in 1842 and became a successful businessman in the textile industry.

While the surname "PROSS" is not among the most common surnames worldwide, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its likely origins in Germany. The name has been carried by individuals from various professions, including merchants, soldiers, artists, and writers, throughout Europe and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pross

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

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

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

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