Gross or Groß in German is the correct spelling of the surname under German orthographic rules. In Switzerland, the name is spelled Gross. Some Germans and Austrians also use the spelling with "ss" instead of "ß". It is a surname of German, Prussian, and

Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...

(Ashkenazi Jewish) origin. The word means "big", "tall" or "great", and was likely adopted in Europe over the

15th 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 (number), 14 and preceding 16 (number), 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky ...

19th 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics 19 is the eighth prime number, and forms a sexy prime with 13, a twin prime with 17, and a cousin prime with 23. It is the third full re ...

centuries during the times of the House of Habsburg when monarchs of the royal families (Emperor or Empress) were called "the Great" (der Große). Descendants of this House may have adopted the name ''Gross'' from their

ancestor An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder or a forebear, is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from whom ...

s. German-speaking Christian hymns use references to Jesus as "Mein Herr ist Groß" (''My Lord is Great'') or "So Groß ist der Herr" (''So Great is the Lord''). Composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828) wrote several songs referring to Jesus or God as ''groß'', such as D 757, a

quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...

called "Gott in der Natur" (''Groß ist der Herr!'') in 1822 and D 852, "Die Allmacht" (''Groß ist Jehova, der Herr'') in 1825.

People with this surname

* Al Gross (politician), American politician and United States senate candidate *

Alfred J. Gross Irving "Al" Gross (; February 22, 1918 – December 21, 2000) was a pioneer in mobile wireless communication. He created and patented many communications devices, specifically in relation to an early version of the walkie-talkie, Citi ...

(1918–2000), American inventor * Arye Gross (born 1960), American actor * Avrum Gross (1936–2018), American lawyer *

Benedict Gross Benedict Hyman Gross is an American mathematician who is a professor at the University of California San Diego, the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at Harvard University, and former Dean of Harvard College.Bill Gross (born 1958), American businessman * Chaim Gross (1904–1991), sculptor born in Galicia * Charles Gross (born 1934), American composer *

Charles P. Gross Major General Charles Philip Gross (14 March 1889 – 18 July 1975) was a United States Army officer who served in World War I and World War II. During World War II he was the Chief of the United States Army Transportation Corps. A graduate of Si ...

(1889–1975), United States Army officer * Christian Gross (born 1954), Swiss football manager * David Gross (born 1941), American scientist and Nobel prize winner *

David A. Gross David A. Gross is an American lawyer and former U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. He is currently a partner in the communications prac ...

(born 1954), American diplomat * Evgeni Gross (1897–1972), Soviet scientist * Frank Gross (1919–2006), Canadian philanthropist * Gabe Gross (born 1979), American baseball player * Garry Gross, American photographer *

H. R. Gross Harold Royce Gross (June 30, 1899 – September 22, 1987) was a Republican United States Representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district for thirteen terms. The role he played on the House floor, objecting to spending measures and projects t ...

(1899–1987), American politician * Hans Georg Friedrich Groß (1860–1924), a German Empire balloonist and airship constructor * Hans Gross (Groß, Grosz) (1847–1915) Austrian lawyer, one of the earliest modern forensic scientists *

Heinrich Gross Heinrich Gross (14 November 1915 – 15 December 2005) was an Austrian psychiatrist, medical doctor and neurologist, a reputed expert as a leading court-appointed psychiatrist, ill-famed for his proven involvement in the killing of at least nin ...

(1915–2005), Austrian Nazi doctor * Heinrich Gross (rabbi) (1835–1910), German rabbi *

Helen Gross Helen Gross (born Hellen R. Gross, May 1896 – unknown) was an American classic female blues singer, active as a recording artist in the mid-1920s. Songs she recorded include "I Wanna Jazz Some More", "Bloody Razor Blues", and "Strange Man" ...

(1896–unknown), American classic female blues singer *

Henry Gross Henry Gross (born April 1, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group Sha Na Na and for his hit song, " Shannon". Gross is considered a one-hit wonder artist; none of his other songs reached the Top 1 ...

(born 1951), American singer-songwriter * Herbert Gross (born 1929), American mathematician *

Izidor Gross Izidor Gross (25 June 1860 – 1942) was a Croatian chess master and hazzan. Background Gross was born into a Jewish family in Kislőd, Hungary on 25 June 1860. In 1891 he settled in Karlovac, Croatia where he served as a hazzan at Karlovac Syna ...

(1866–1942), Croatian chess master and hazzan * Jacob Gross (Illinois politician) (1840–1918), Illinois state treasurer *

Jacob Gross Jacob Gross (July 26, 1819 – 1899) was born in Württemberg, Germany. Considered an expert piano maker of the old school, he learned his trade in Stuttgart and afterwards worked in some of the leading factories of Germany, Switzerland, Spain a ...

(1819–1899), German-American piano maker *

Jacob A. Gross Jacob A. Gross (1842 – October 8, 1887) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life Born in New York City, he was the son of Martin Gross. He attended private schools in New York City. Then he studied law at Columbia Law School, ...

(born 1842), New York politician *

James A. Gross James A. Gross (born 1933) is an American educator and historian who teaches United States labor law and labor history at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is the author of a highly regarded three-volume history ...

, American professor and labor law expert *

James Gross James J. Gross is a psychologist best known for his research in emotion and emotion regulation. He is a professor at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Psychophysiology Laboratory. Education Gross received his B.A. in phil ...

, American psychologist and professor *

Jan T. Gross Jan Tomasz Gross (born 1947) is a Polish-American sociologist and historian. He is the Norman B. Tomlinson '16 and '48 Professor of War and Society, emeritus, and Professor of History, emeritus, at Princeton University. Gross is the author o ...

(born 1947), Polish-American historian * John Gross (1935–2011), British author, editor and critic * Jordan Gross (born 1980), American football player *

Jost Gross Jost Gross (1 March 1946 – 6 May 2005) was a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party. From 1995 to his death he had a seat in the National Council. Gross was born in Flawil, Switzerland. He was educated as a lawyer and taught at ...

(1946–2005), Swiss politician *

Julie Gross Julie Gross (born 27 March 1957) is a retired Australian women's basketball player. Biography Gross played for the national team during the 1970s, competing for Australia at two World Championships; 1975 held in Columbia and 1979 held in So ...

(born 1957), Australian basketball player * Kenneth I. Gross (born 1938), American mathematician * Kevin Gross (born 1961), American baseball player * Kip Gross (born 1964), American baseball player * Larry Gross, American screenwriter *

Luke Gross Luke Gross (born November 21, 1969) is an American former rugby union player and current rugby coach and administrator. A lock who played for various club sides, he earned 62 caps for the United States between 1996 and 2003. Gross was the all- ...

(born 1969), American rugby footballer *

M. Louise Gross M. Louise Gross (1884–1951) was secretary to New York City Tammany Hall district leader Thomas F. Foley, a close associate of Al Smith. She served in leadership positions in repeal of prohibition organizations including the Molly Pitcher Club ...

(1884–1951), American activist * Manuela Groß (born 1957), German figure skater *

Mark Gross (musician) Mark Gross (born February 20, 1966) is a Baltimore-born jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop tradition. He studied at the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1988, then worked in the band of Lionel Hampton and performed in ''Five Guys Named M ...

(born 1966), American musician *

Mark Gross (mathematician) Mark William Gross (born 30 November 1965)Anon (2017) is an American mathematician, specializing in differential geometry, algebraic geometry, and mirror symmetry. Education Gross studied from 1982 at Cornell University graduating with a bach ...

(born 1965), American mathematician * Mary Gross (born 1953), American actress, voice actress, and comedian *

Mason W. Gross Mason Welch Gross (June 3, 1911 – October 11, 1977) was an American television quiz show personality and academic who served as the sixteenth President of Rutgers University, serving from 1959 to 1971. Biography He was born in Hartford, C ...

(1911–1977), American university president *

Matthias Gross Matthias Gross (German spelling: ''Groß'', pronounced , ; born 1969) is a German sociologist and science studies scholar. He currently is Full Professor of Environmental Sociology at the University of Jena, and by joint appointment, at Helmholtz Ce ...

(born 1969), German social scientist *

Maurice Gross Maurice Gross (born 21 July 1934 in Sedan, Ardennes department; died 8 December 2001 in Paris) was a French linguistJean-Claude Chevalier,, ''Le Monde'', 12 décembre 2001. and scholar of Romance languages. Beginning in the late 1960s he developed ...

(1934–2001), French linguist *

Michael Gross (disambiguation) Michael Gross may refer to: *Michael Gross (artist) (1920–2004), Israeli painter, sculptor and conceptual artist * Michael L. Gross (chemist) (born 1940), American professor of chemistry, medicine, and immunology *Michael Gross (actor) (born 1947) ...

, multiple people *

Michael Groß (politician) Michael Groß (born 26 July 1956) is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who has been serving as a member of the Bundestag from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2009. Political career Groß became member of the B ...

, German politician *

Michael Groß (swimmer) Michael Groß (, ; born 17 June 1964), usually spelled Michael Gross in English, is a former competitive swimming (sport), swimmer from Germany. He is tall, and received the nickname "The Albatross" for his especially long arms that gave him a ...

, German swimmer * Milt Gross (1895–1953), American comics artist * Miriam Gross (born 1939), British editor, journalist and writer *

Mirjana Gross Mirjana Gross (born Mirjam Gross; 22 May 1922 – 23 July 2012) was a notable Yugoslav-Croatian Jewish historian and writer. Life and career Gross was born in Zagreb to Jewish parents, Mavro and Ella Gross, on 22 May 1922. During World War II a ...

(1922–2012), Croatian historian and writer *

Morris Gross Morris H. Gross was an American basketball player and coach, baseball coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head basketball coach at San Diego State University from 1929 to 1942, compiling a record of 190–85. Smith was a ...

, American college sports coach *

Nikolaus Gross Nikolaus Gross (German: Groß) (30 September 1898 – 23 January 1945) was a German Roman Catholic. Gross first worked in crafts requiring skilled labor before becoming a coal miner like his father while joining a range of trade union and politic ...

(1898–1945), German anti-Nazi activist * Otto Gross (1877–1920), Austrian psychoanalyst *

Pascal Groß Pascal Groß (, sometimes rendered in English as Gross; born 15 June 1991) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or defender for club Brighton & Hove Albion. Groß played at youth international level for Germany. Career ...

(born 1991), German footballer * Paul Gross (born 1959), Canadian actor *

Pete Gross Peter R. Gross (December 28, 1936 – December 2, 1992) was an American sports announcer known in Seattle, Washington, as the "Voice of the Seahawks" for 17 years. He spent most of his career as a radio play-by-play announcer with KIRO (AM). H ...

, American sports announcer * Philip Gross (born 1952), English poet * Ricco Groß (born 1970), German retired biathlete *

Rita Gross Rita M. Gross (July 6, 1943 – November 11, 2015) was an American Buddhist feminist scholar of religions and author. Before retiring, she was Professor of Comparative Studies in Religion at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. In 1974 G ...

(1943–2015), American educator, writer, and theologian *

Robert A. Gross (historian) Robert Alan Gross (born Bridgeport, Connecticut) is an American historian, and is an emeritus faculty member at the University of Connecticut. Life Gross graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966, and from Columbia University with an ...

(born 1959), American historian and professor *

Robert E. Gross (businessman) Robert Ellsworth Gross (May 11, 1897 – September 3, 1961) was an American businessman involved in the field of aviation. His first venture, the Viking Flying Boat Company, failed with the loss of the aircraft market brought on by the Great Dep ...

(1897–1961), American businessman *

Robert Edward Gross Robert Edward Gross (July 2, 1905 – October 11, 1988) was an American surgeon and a medical researcher. He performed early work in pediatric heart surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. Gross was president of the American Association for Thoracic ...

(1905–1988), American pioneering pediatric surgeon *

Roland Gross Roland Gross (January 13, 1909 – February 11, 1989) was an American film editor and television editor who had over 40 film and television credits during his career. He was nominated in the category of Best Film Editing at the 17th Academy Awar ...

(1909–1989), American film editor *

Sam Gross Sam Gross (born August 7, 1933) is an American cartoonist, specializing in single-panel cartoons. History Born in Bronx, New York City, Gross was the son of Max and Sophie, who were Jewish immigrants to America. His mother was born in Iași, ...

, American cartoonist *

Samuel David Gross Samuel David Gross (July 8, 1805 – May 6, 1884) was an American academic trauma surgeon. Surgeon biographer Isaac Minis Hays called Gross "The Nestor of American Surgery." He is immortalized in Thomas Eakins' ''The Gross Clinic'' (1875), a ...

(1805–1884), American surgeon *

Sara Gross Sara Gross (born March 26, 1976 in Sarnia, Ontario) is a former professional triathlete, who was born in Canada but competed for Great Britain. She grew up in Kitchener, Ontario and Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. In 2005, she won the ITU Eur ...

(born 1976), Canada-born British triathlete * Stanislav Gross (1969–2015), Czech lawyer, politician and former social-democratic Prime Minister *

Susanna Gross Susanna Gross has been literary editor of ''The Mail on Sunday'' since 1999 and bridge columnist for ''The Spectator'' since 2000. She has played bridge in many national and international competitions and represented England in home internationa ...

, English newspaper editor * Terry Gross (born 1951), American radio personality * Tom Gross, journalist and political commentator *

Walter Gross (disambiguation) Walter Gross may refer to: * Walter R. Gross (1903–1974), German palaeontologist *Walter Gross (politician) (1904–1945), German Nazi politician *Walter Gross (actor) (1904–1989), German actor in ''Two Hearts in May'' (1958) and other films *W ...

, multiple people *

William H. Gross William Hunt "Bill" Gross (born April 13, 1944) is an American investor and fund manager, best known for co-founding Pacific Investment Management Co. PIMCO is a global fixed income investment company. Gross ran their $270 billion Total Retur ...

(born 1944), American financial manager and author * Yoram Gross (1926–2015), Polish–Australian film producer * Dr Gröss, a character in

Faces of Death ''Faces of Death'' (later re-released as ''The Original Faces of Death'') is a 1978 American mondo horror film written and directed by John Alan Schwartz, credited under the pseudonyms "Conan Le Cilaire" and "Alan Black" respectively. The fi ...

and its sequels. It can also refer to Heinrich Gross

People with this surname

See also