Strauss
A German and Jewish surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with ostrich (strauss) feathers.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,075 Americans carry the last name Strauss. That puts it at #2,604 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.69 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 21,322 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Strauss 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
16K
1 in 21,322
Census rank
#2,604
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 13,840 bearers of the surname Strauss in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.69 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2604th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Strauss, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Strauss
The surname Strauss has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the German word 'Strauße', meaning 'ostrich feather' or 'bouquet of feathers', and likely referred to a distinctive feature or occupation associated with the family's earliest known bearers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Strauss surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a 'Conradus Struz' in the year 1292. This early spelling variation, 'Struz', further suggests the name's connection to the German word for feather.
As the Strauss family spread throughout various regions of Germany, the name underwent slight spelling variations, such as 'Strauß' and 'Straus'. In the 15th century, records from the city of Nuremberg mention a 'Hans Strauß', who was a prominent merchant and member of the local guild.
The Strauss surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Johann Strauss Sr. (1804-1849), an Austrian composer and violinist, is considered the founder of the Strauss musical dynasty. His sons, Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899) and Josef Strauss (1827-1870), carried on the family's musical legacy and became renowned composers of waltzes and operettas.
Another notable bearer of the Strauss surname was David Friedrich Strauss (1808-1874), a German philosopher and writer who authored the influential work 'The Life of Jesus Critically Examined'. In the field of science, Johann Strauss (1675-1726) was a German botanist and physician who made significant contributions to the study of plant physiology.
The Strauss name has also been prominent in the realm of business and industry. Levi Strauss (1829-1902), a German-American businessman, founded the iconic Levi Strauss & Co. and popularized the use of denim in the production of work pants, now known as blue jeans.
While the Strauss surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing the name in countries such as the United States, Austria, and others. The name's enduring legacy serves as a testament to its rich history and the significant contributions made by its bearers across various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Strauss
Among Census respondents with the surname Strauss, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Strauss 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 Strauss surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Black or African American1.5%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Strauss 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 | #2,604 | #2,604 | 0.0% |
| Count | 13,840 | 13,840 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.69 | 4.69 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Strauss bearers went from 13,840 to 13,840 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,604 to #2,604.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Strauss
FAQ
Strauss surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Strauss?
The surname Strauss holds position #2,604 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 16,075 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.69 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Strauss surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Strauss, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (1.5%). 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.