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Strauss Family History

Strauss Surname Meaning

German: nickname for an awkward or belligerent person from Middle High German strūz ‘quarrel complaint’. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German strūze German Strauss ‘ostrich’ hence a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of an ostrich or (among the German nobility) a nickname for someone whose coat-of-arms featured an ostrich or a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.

In some cases the Jewish surname was artificial. This surname (in any of the possible senses; see also 1 above and 3 below) is also found in some other European countries e.g. in France (Alsace and Lorraine) the Netherlands, Poland, and Czechia.

German: topographic name from Middle High German strūz ‘bush bundle’. Americanized (or Germanized) form of Slovenian Štraus or Štravs (see Straus), Czech and Slovak Štraus, and perhaps also of Polish, Slovenian, etc. Straus 1, all ultimately of the same German origin as the names above.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Strauss family from?

You can see how Strauss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Strauss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Strauss families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 57 Strauss families living in London. This was about 66% of all the recorded Strauss's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Strauss families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Strauss surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Strauss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Private Means and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Strauss. 27% of Strauss men worked as a Private Means and 52% of Strauss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Strauss were No Occupation (jewish Refugee) and Domestic.

View Census Data for Strauss | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Private Means
    27%
  • Refugee
    20%
  • Rubber Proofed Garment Manufacturer (on Own Ac)
    8%
  • No Occupation (jewish Refugee)
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    52%
  • Domestic Servant
    11%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Domestic
    5%

What Strauss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Strauss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Strauss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Strauss

Passenger Lists

There are 34,000 immigration records available for the last name Strauss. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Strauss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 29,000 military records available for the last name Strauss. For the veterans among your Strauss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Strauss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Strauss family history

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What is the average Strauss lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Strauss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Strauss in 1945 was 38, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Strauss

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Strauss ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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