Strauss, Strauß or Straus is a common Germanic surname. Outside Germany and Austria ''Strauß'' is always spelled ''Strauss'' (the letter " ß" is not used in the German-speaking part of Switzerland). In classical music, "Strauss" usually refers to

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist. Considered a leading composer of the late Romantic music, Romantic and early Modernism (music), modern eras, he has been descr ...

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

. The name has been used by families in the Germanic area for at least a thousand years. The overlord of Gröna, for example, went by the name of Struz and used the image of an ostrich as his symbol. Examples of it could still be seen on the thousand-year-old church bell of that town. "Struz" or "Strutz" is the North-German form of the word "Strauss", which is the modern German word for

ostrich Ostriches are large flightless birds of the genus ''Struthio'' in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, a diverse group of flightless birds also known as ratites that includes the emus, rheas, and kiwis. There a ...

. Some of the earliest Jewish bearers of the name hailed from the Judengasse in medieval

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its ...

, where families have been known by the name of the houses they inhabited. All the houses had names and these included Haus Strauss, complete with an image of an ostrich on the façade. When, for tax purposes, Napoleon made surnames obligatory in 1808, some more Jewish families decided to adopt the Straus(s) name.

Notable people

A–F

* Adolf Strauss (general) (or Strauß 1879–1973), German colonel general * Adriaan Strauss (born 1985), South African Springbok rugby union player * Andrew Strauss (born 1977), South African born former English cricket captain * Andries Strauss (born 1984), South African Springbok rugby union player; brother of Irish International Richardt Strauss and cousin of Springbok Adriaan Strauss * Annette Strauss (1924–1998), philanthropist and former mayor of Dallas, Texas * Anselm Strauss (1916–1996), American sociologist * Anton Strauss (born 1858), German-Russian engineer, inventor and entrepreneur * Astrid Strauss (born 1968), East German swimmer * Aurora Straus, American racecar driver *

Barry S. Strauss Barry S. Strauss (born November 27, 1953) is an American historian. He is Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies at Cornell University as well as a Professor of History and Classics and former chair of Cornell's history departm ...

(born 1953), American classicist and historian *

Bill Strauss (footballer) William Henry Strauss (6 January 1916 – 16 November 1984) was a South African professional footballer. An outside left, Strauss played for Aberdeen between 1935 and 1946 and Plymouth Argyle between 1946 and 1953. At Aberdeen, he played a ro ...

(1916–1984), South African born Scottish footballer and cricketer * Billy Straus, American record producer and songwriter * Botho Strauß (born 1944), German writer and playwright * Bruce Strauss (born 1952), American boxer *

Carolyn Strauss Carolyn Strauss (born July 13, 1963) is an American television executive and producer. She was the president of the Home Box Office network's entertainment division until 2008 and was responsible for commissioning series like ''The Sopranos'', '' ...

(born 1963), American television executive and producer *

Christoph Straus Christoph Straus (1575–1631) was an Austrian composer, cantor and organist. His church music includes polyphonic pieces and polychoral Masses, including a notable Requiem for high and low choirs. Although his textures were, by current standa ...

(around 1580–1631), composer *

Claude Lévi-Strauss Claude Lévi-Strauss (, ; 28 November 1908 – 30 October 2009) was a French anthropologist and ethnologist whose work was key in the development of the theories of structuralism and structural anthropology. He held the chair of Social Anthro ...

(1908–2009), French anthropologist *

D. F. M. Strauss D. F. M. Strauss (born 1946, Bloemfontein) is a South-African philosopher and the world's leading expert on the theory of modal aspects, one of the core features of the thought of the Dutch philosopher, Herman Dooyeweerd, and the movement for ...

(born 1946), South African philosopher * Darin Strauss (born 1970), American writer *

David Strauss David Friedrich Strauss (german: link=no, Strauß ; 27 January 1808 – 8 February 1874) was a German liberal Protestant theologian and writer, who influenced Christian Europe with his portrayal of the " historical Jesus", whose divine nature h ...

(David Friedrich Strauss or Strauß, 1808–1874), German theologian and writer *

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn (; born 25 April 1949), also known as DSK, is a French economist and politician who served as the tenth managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and was a member of the French Socialist ...

(born 1949), French politician, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund * Dona Strauss (born 1934), British mathematician * Donald B. Straus (1916–2007), American educator, author, political advisor * Eduard Strauss (1835–1916), Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss I *

Eric Strauss Eric G. Strauss is a President's Professor at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, California. He is a member of the Biology Department at the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering and director of the Ballona Discovery ...

(born 1960), American biologist, professor at Boston College * Ernst G. Straus (1922–1983), mathematician and assistant to Albert Einstein *

Erwin Straus Erwin Walter Maximilian Straus (11 November 1891, Frankfurt am Main – 20 May 1975, Lexington, Kentucky) was a German-American phenomenologist and neurologist who helped to pioneer anthropological medicine and psychiatry, a holistic approach to ...

(1891–1975), phenomenologist and neurologist of European origin *

Fabio Strauss Fabio Strauss (born 6 August 1994) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays for FC Blau-Weiß Linz, as a defender. Career Born in Salzburg, Strauss has played for SV Austria Salzburg and SV Grödig. On 28 August 2020, he joined FC Blau ...

(born 1994), Austrian footballer * Ferdinand Strauss, The founder of the mechanical toy industry in America * Franz Josef Strauss (or Strauß, 1915–1988), German politician (CSU) * Franz Strauss (1822–1905), German horn player and composer, father of Richard Strauss

G–L

* Harry L. Straus, (1896–1949), American electrical engineer, horse and cattle breeder, sportsman, entrepreneur and computer pioneer * Harry Strauss (1909–1941), contract killer for Murder, Inc. in the 1930s * Henry Strauss, 1st Baron Conesford (1892–1974), member of the British Parliament from 1935 to 1955 * Hugo Strauß (1907–1941), German rower * Isaac Lobe Straus (1871–1946), American politician and lawyer * Isidor Straus (1845–1912), owner of R. H. Macy Co., member of the U.S. House of Representatives, died when the steamer ''Titanic'' sank * Ivan Štraus (born 1928), Bosnian architect * Jack Straus (1930–1988), American professional poker player *

Jael Strauss The eighth cycle of ''America's Next Top Model'' aired from February 28, 2007 to May 16, 2007, and was the second season of the series to be aired on The CW network. The winner, similar to all of the cycles aired on The CW network, received repr ...

, contestant in ''America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8'' *

James Straus James Straus is a special effects artist who was nominated at the 69th Academy Awards for the film ''Dragonheart'' in the category of Best Visual Effects. His nomination was shared with Scott Squires, Phil Tippett and Kit West. He is also an an ...

, American special effects artist and animation developer * James Strauss (flautist) (born 1974), Brazilian flautist *

James D. Strauss James Dean Strauss (July 3, 1929 – March 19, 2014) was an American theologian who was professor of theology and philosophy at Lincoln Christian Seminary from 1967-1994. He has been described by many as the Albert Einstein of the Restoration Move ...

(1929–2014), American theologian and professor * Jesse I. Straus (1872–1936), son of Isidor Straus, president of Macy's, U.S. ambassador to France 1933–36 *

Jessica Straus Jessica Straus is an American voice actress who works in animation Animation is a method by which image, still figures are manipulated to appear as Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by han ...

(born 1962), American voice actress *

Jo-Ann Strauss Jo-Ann Cindy Strauss (born 3 February 1981 in Cape Town) is a South African model, public speaker and businesswoman. In 2001, she represented her country as Miss South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico as well as at the Miss ...

(born 1981), Miss South Africa in 2000 * Joe Straus (born 1959), politician from Texas * Joe Strauss (1858–1906), American baseball player * Johann Strauss I (1804–1849), Austrian composer (''Radetzky March''), father of Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, and Eduard Strauss *

(1825–1899), Austrian composer (''Die Fledermaus'', ''Blue Danube Waltz'') * Johann Strauss III (1866–1939), Austrian composer, son of Eduard Strauss * John J. Strauss (born 1957), American producer and writer of film and television * Jon Strauss, former president of Harvey Mudd College * Josef Strauss (1827–1870), Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss I * Joseph Straus (born 1938), German patent scholar *

Joseph Strauss (disambiguation) Joseph Strauss may refer to: * Josef Strauss (1827–1870), composer * Joseph Strauss (admiral) (1861–1948), officer of the United States Navy ** USS ''Joseph Strauss'', A U.S. Navy ship named for the admiral * Joseph Strauss (engineer) (1870–1 ...

, several people, including: ** Joseph Strauss (admiral) (1861–1948), American admiral ** Joseph Strauss (engineer) (1870–1938), chief engineer in the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in California * Josh Strauss (born 1986), South African rugby union player *

Julius Strauss Julius Strauss is a wilderness guide, activist, journalist and writer. Journalism career Strauss began his career as a British print journalist who spent many years working in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones. In 2002, he wa ...

, British journalist *

Julius Strauss (photographer) Julius Caesar Strauss (July 1857 - 1924), known professionally as J. C. Strauss, was an American photographer who was active in St. Louis, Missouri, at the turn of the 20th century. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a poor Bavarian-born tail ...

(1857–1924), American photographer * Kai Strauss (born 1970), German electric blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter * Karin Straus (born 1971), Dutch politician *

Karl Strauss Karl Martin Strauss (October 5, 1912 – December 21, 2006) was a German-American brewer. He fled Nazi Germany in 1939, and went on to become a brewer, executive, and consultant in the American brewing industry. He received numerous awards dur ...

(1912–2006), German-American master brewer and co-founder of Karl Strauss Brewing Company * Kathleen N. Straus (born 1923), American educator and politician * Kim Strauss (or Kurt Strauss) (born 1953), actor * Jacobus Gideon Nel Strauss (1900–1990), aka Koos Strauss, Kosie Strauss, J. G. N. Strauss, South African politician and Leader of the opposition after Jan Smuts *

Leo Strauss Leo Strauss (, ; September 20, 1899 – October 18, 1973) was a German-American political philosopher who specialized in classical political philosophy. Born in Germany to Jewish parents, Strauss later emigrated from Germany to the United States ...

(1899–1973), political philosopher *

Levi Strauss (disambiguation) Levi Strauss (1829–1902) was founder of the first company to manufacture blue jeans. Levi Strauss or Lévi-Strauss may also refer to: People * Claude Lévi-Strauss (1908–2009), French anthropologist and ethnologist * Dina Lévi-Strauss (1911-1 ...

, several people, including: **

Levi Strauss Levi Strauss (; born Löb Strauß ; February 26, 1829 – September 26, 1902) was a German-born American businessman who founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans. His firm of Levi Strauss & Co. (Levi's) began in 1853 in San Francisc ...

(1829–1902), Bavaria-born American entrepreneur and inventor of blue jeans **

, French anthropologist and ethnologist **

Dina Lévi-Strauss Dina Dreyfus (French: ʁɛˈfys, also known as Dina Levi-Strauss (French: evi stʁos 1 February 1911, Milan – 25 February 1999, Paris), was a French ethnologist, anthropologist, sociologist, and philosopher, who conducted cultural research ...

, French anthropologist and ethnologist, wife of the above * Lewis Strauss (1896–1974) American businessman and chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission * Lotte Strauss (1913–1985), American pathologist after which Churg–Strauss syndrome is named *

Ludwig Straus Ludwig Straus (March 28, 1835 – October 23, 1899) was an Austrian violinist. Straus was born at Pressburg. He studied at the Vienna Conservatorium from 1843 to 1848, as a pupil of Böhm; made his first appearance in 1850, and five years afterwar ...

(1835–1899), Hungarian-Austrian violinist

M–Z

* Maayan Strauss (born 1983), Israeli artist *

Marianne Strauss Marianne Strauss (1923-1996) was a Jewish woman who was born in Essen, a city in the industrial region of western Germany. Early life Marianne was born in 1923 in Essen, a city in West Germany. She was born into a rich Jewish family. The fathe ...

(1923–1996), German Holocaust survivor * Mark L. Strauss, New Testament professor *

Mark Strauss (journalist) Mark Strauss (born November 8, 1966) is a U.S. journalist who writes about politics, science, public opinion, and history. He is currently the Managing Editor at ''Air &'' ''Space Quarterly'', which is published by the Smithsonian’s National Ai ...

(born 1966), American journalist * Michael W. Straus (1897–1970), American government official *

Mikaela Straus Mikaela Mullaney Straus (born December 19, 1998), known by her stage name King Princess, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician from Brooklyn, New York. She is signed to Mark Ronson's label Zelig Records, an imprint of Columbia Records. ...

(born 1998), stage name King Princess, American singer-songwriter and great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus * Murray A. Straus (1926–2016), American sociologist and professor (University of New Hampshire), creator of the Conflict tactics scale * Nathan Straus (1848–1931), German-American merchant and philanthropist * Nathan Straus Jr. (1889–1961), New York journalist and politician * Neil Strauss, (born 1969) American journalist and author * Ofra Strauss (born 1960), chairperson of Israeli food products manufacturer Strauss * Oscar Straus (composer) (1870–1954), Austrian composer of operettas * Oscar Straus (politician) (1850–1926), Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt *

Paul Strauss Paul Eric Strauss (born April 11, 1964) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States shadow senator from the District of Columbia since 1997. He succeeded Jesse Jackson, the first person to hold the elected positi ...

(born 1964), politician from the District of Columbia *

Peter Strauss Peter Lawrence Strauss (born February 20, 1947) is an American television and film actor, known for his roles in several television miniseries in the 1970s and 1980s. He is five-time Golden Globe Awards nominee. Early life Strauss was born in ...

(born 1947), American actor * Ralph Straus Regula (1924–2017), politician from Beach City, Stark County, Ohio *

Ray Strauss Raymond Bernard Strauss (4 November 1927 – 28 July 2013) was an Australian sportsman who played both cricket and field hockey at high levels. From Perth, Western Australia, Strauss attended Perth Modern School and later the University of W ...

(1927–2013), Australian cricketer *

(1864–1949), German composer of operas and tone poems (''Salome'', ''Also sprach Zarathustra'') *

Richard Strauss (physician) The Ohio State University abuse scandal centered on allegations of sexual abuse that occurred between 1978 and 1998, while Richard Strauss was employed as a physician by the Ohio State University (OSU) in the Ohio State Buckeyes, Athletics Departmen ...

(1938–2005), subject of the Ohio State University abuse scandal * Richardt Strauss (born 1986), South African rugby union player representing Ireland internationally; brother of Springbok Andries Strauss and cousin of Springbok Adriaan Strauss * Robert Schwarz Strauss (1918–2014), American diplomat * Robert Strauß (born 1986), German football player * Robert Strauss (actor) (1913–1975), American actor * Robert E Strauss (born 1983), American professional wrestler using the ring name Robbie E * Roberto Strauss (born 1952), Mexican Olympic swimmer * Roger Williams Straus Jr. (1917–2004), co-founder of book publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux * Rolene Strauss (born 1992), 2014 Miss South Africa and Miss World *

Sagi Strauss Sagi Strauss ( he, שגיא שטראוס; born 29 June 1976) is a retired Israeli association footballer. Strauss has been transferred or loaned to a new team before almost every season of his professional career. Early and personal life Strau ...

(born 1976), Israeli footballer *

Stephen Straus Stephen E. Straus (November 23, 1946 – May 14, 2007) was an American physician, immunologist, virologist and science administrator. He is particularly known for his research into human herpesviruses and chronic fatigue syndrome, and for his di ...

(1946–2007), American medical researcher * Sylvia Straus, pianist * Thomas Strauß (born 1953), German rower *

Tiaan Strauss Christiaan Petrus 'Tiaan' Strauss, (born 28 June 1965) is a former rugby union and rugby league footballer who represented both South Africa and Australia at international level in rugby union and also played top-level domestic rugby league in ...

(born 1965), South African Springbok rugby union player * Victoria Strauss (born 1955), fantasy author *

Walter Alexander Strauss Walter Alexander Strauss (born 1937) is American applied mathematician, specializing in partial differential equations and nonlinear waves. His Research interests are Partial Differential Equations, Mathematical Physics, Stability Theory, Solitary ...

(born 1937), American mathematician *

William Strauss William Strauss (December 5, 1947 – December 18, 2007) was an American author, playwright, theater director, and lecturer. As an author, he is known for his work with Neil Howe on social generations and for Strauss–Howe generational theory ...

, (1947–2007), American author, historian, playwright, lecturer and theorist *

William M. Straus William M. Straus (born June 26, 1956 in East Orange, New Jersey) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represents the 10th Bristol District comprising the towns of Fairhaven; New Bedford: Ward 3: Precinct A, Ward 4: Prec ...

, (born 1956), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives * Zoe Strauss, (born 1970), American photographer

Places and institutions named Strauss or Strauß or Straus

* Karl Strauss Brewing Company, a San Diego-based Craft Beer Company * Strauss Airfield, Airfield in Australia, named for American fighter pilot Allison W. Strauss *

Straus Clothing Straus Clothing was the oldest family-owned retailer in North Dakota when it closed in January 2016. History First Generation The Straus/Stern family entered the clothing business in North Dakota in 1879 when German-Jewish-American brothers ...

, a former clothing retailer in North Dakota * Strauss Group Ltd, a food products manufacturer in Israel * Strauss, an unincorporated community in

Labette County, Kansas Labette County (county code LB) is a county located in Southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons. The county was named after LaBette creek, the s ...

Fictional Strauss characters

* Mrs Strauss, an elderly client of Jimmy McGill whom he assists with estate planning in the ''Better Call Saul'' episode titled " Alpine Shepherd Boy" * Akabara Strauss, Vampire King from the manga '' The Record of a Fallen Vampire'' * Dr Arthur Strauss, fictional character who served as the original mentor of serial killer and cult leader Joe Carroll, lead character in the TV series ''

The Following ''The Following'' is an American crime thriller television series created by Kevin Williamson, and jointly produced by Outerbanks Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. The first season follows former FBI agent Ryan Hardy ( Kevin Baco ...

'' * Artie Strauss, fictional character based on the real life murderer Richard Loeb of the infamous murder duo ''

Leopold and Loeb Nathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr. (November 19, 1904 – August 29, 1971) and Richard Albert Loeb (; June 11, 1905 – January 28, 1936), usually referred to collectively as Leopold and Loeb, were two wealthy students at the University of Chicago ...

'' * Erin Strauss, fictional FBI section chief played by Jayne Atkinson in the TV series ''

Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis. The series premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005, and originally concluded on February 19, 2020; it was revived in 2022. It ...

'' * Hans and Greta Strauss, inspiration for the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel" according to the ''Buffy'' episode " Gingerbread" *

Justice Strauss The children's novel series ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' and its film and television adaptations features a large cast of characters created by Daniel Handler under the pen name of Lemony Snicket. The original series follows the turbulent ...

, fictional character from ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' by Lemony Snicket * Leopold Strauss, loan shark and bookkeeper of the Van der Linde gang in the 2018 videogame ''

Red Dead Redemption 2 ''Red Dead Redemption 2'' is a 2018 action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. The game is the third entry in the ''Red Dead'' series and a prequel to the 2010 game ''Red Dead Redemption''. The story is set in 1899 and f ...

'' * Maximilian Strauss, from the game '' Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines'', one of the Primogen in Los Angeles * Judge Robert Strauss, fictional character who presided over Carrie Mathison's competency hearing in ''

Homeland A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethn ...

'' * Roman Strauss, fictional conductor-composer from the 1991 psychological thriller '' Dead Again'' * Tracy Strauss, fictional character from NBC's science fiction TV series " Heroes" by Tim Kring * The Strauss siblings, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna. All three are wizards and Fairy Tail guild members from the manga '' Fairy Tail'' by Hiro Mashima

References

{{reflist Jewish surnames German-language surnames Yiddish-language surnames