Strauss, Strauß or Straus is a common Germanic

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. 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 and early modern eras, he has been described as a successor of Richard Wag ...

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. Some of the earliest Jewish bearers of the name hailed from the Judengasse in medieval Frankfurt, 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 Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

made surnames obligatory in 1808, some more Jewish families decided to adopt the Straus(s) name.

Notable people

A–F

Adolf Strauss (general) __NOTOC__ Adolf Strauß (6 September 1879 – 20 March 1973) was a German officer who served in the Imperial German Army, the Reichswehr, and later as a general in the Heer of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht during World War II. As commander of the I ...

(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 Billy Straus is an American music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work in children's television including the Disney series ''Little Einsteins,'' '' Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?,'' the two PBS children's computer-animated te ...

, American record producer and songwriter *

Botho Strauß Botho Strauß (; born 2 December 1944) is a German playwright, novelist and essayist. Biography Botho Strauß's father was a chemist. After finishing his secondary education, Strauß studied German, History of the Theatre and Sociology in Col ...

(born 1944), German writer and playwright * Bruce Strauss (born 1952), American boxer * Carolyn Strauss (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 (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 or Strauß, 1808–1874), German theologian and writer * Dominique Strauss-Kahn (born 1949), French politician, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund * Dona Strauss (born 1934), British mathematician *

Donald B. Straus Donald Blun Straus (June 28, 1916–September 3, 2007) was an American educator and an executive in public services, public service. Straus, who held A.B. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University, served as president of the American Arbitr ...

(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 Ernst Gabor Straus (February 25, 1922 – July 12, 1983) was a German-American mathematician of Jewish origin who helped found the theories of Euclidean Ramsey theory and of the arithmetic properties of analytic functions. His extensive list of co ...

(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 Henry Lobe Straus (March 10, 1896 – October 25, 1949) was an American electrical engineer, horse and cattle breeder, sportsman, entrepreneur and computer pioneer. Biography Straus was a 1913 graduate of the Baltimore City College high school a ...

, (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 Ivan Štraus (24 July 1928 – 24 August 2018) was a Bosnians, Bosnian architect. Life Born in 1928, in Kremna, Zlatibor county, Serbia, to a Slovenian father and mother from Herzegovina. He identified as a "Bosnian of Slovenian and Herzegovi ...

(born 1928), Bosnian architect *

Jack Straus Jack "Treetop" Straus (June 16, 1930 – August 17, 1988) was an American professional poker player. He is best known for winning the 1982 World Series of Poker Main Event, where he was able to come back from being down to one chip earlier ...

(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 Jesse Isidor Straus (June 25, 1872 – October 4, 1936) served as the American ambassador to France from 1933 to 1936. Life and career Jesse Straus was born in Manhattan, the eldest son of the German immigrants Isidor Straus (1845–1912) and ...

(1872–1936), son of Isidor Straus, president of Macy's, U.S. ambassador to France 1933–36 * Jessica Straus (born 1962), American voice actress * Jo-Ann Strauss (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 John Jerome Strauss (born May 12, 1957) is an American Television producer, producer and writer of film and television. He has written and produced for the television series ''Boy Meets World'' (and known as the writer who came up with the char ...

(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 Josh Strauss (born 23 October 1986) is a South African-born Scotland international rugby union player who currently plays for Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls. His regular playing position is ...

(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 Kai Strauss (born 15 May 1970) is a German electric blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is a multiple winner of the German Blues Award and regularly tours with his band, Kai Strauss & The Electric Blues All Stars. Strauss has been involved ...

(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 Kathleen Nagler Straus (born December 3, 1923) served as a member of the Michigan State Board of Education from 1993–2016. She has been continuously involved in civic organizations in Michigan, since moving to Detroit in 1952. Her volunteer and ...

(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 (1829–1902), Bavaria-born American entrepreneur and inventor of blue jeans ** Claude Lévi-Strauss, French anthropologist and ethnologist ** Dina Lévi-Strauss, 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 Mark Lehman Strauss is an American biblical scholar and professor of the New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego, which is part of Bethel University, Minnesota. His areas of expertise include New Testament Gospels and Bible translation. B ...

, 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 A ...

(born 1966), American journalist *

Michael W. Straus Michael Wolf Straus (1897–1970) was the Commissioner of the United States Bureau of Reclamation from 1945 until 1953. Biography Straus was born in Chicago in 1897. He pursued a career as a newspaperman, serving as managing editor of the ''Chicag ...

(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 Murray Arnold Straus (June 18, 1926 – May 13, 2016) was an American professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire. He is best known for creating the conflict tactics scale, the "most widely used instrument in research on family viol ...

(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. Nathan Straus Jr. (May 27, 1889 – September 13, 1961) was an American journalist and politician from New York (state), New York. Life He was the son of Lina (née Gutherz) and Nathan Straus (1848–1931), co-owner of Macy's department store. ...

(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 (born 1964), politician from the District of Columbia * Peter Strauss (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 Richardt Strauss (born 28 January 1986) is a former professional rugby union player who played as a hooker. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, he began his career with the Free State Cheetahs and played for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby before movin ...

(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 Robert Strauß (born 7 October 1986) is a German former professional association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for FC Augsburg, FC Erzgebirge Aue and 1. FC Heidenheim before retiring in 2020. He now works with the boa ...

(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 Roberto Strauss (born 24 June 1952) is a Mexican former swimmer who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics. At the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel he won a gold medal in freestyle, and at the 1973 Maccabiah Games he won three bronze medals in free ...

(born 1952), Mexican Olympic swimmer *

Roger Williams Straus Jr. Roger Williams Straus Jr. (January 3, 1917 – May 25, 2004) was co-founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a New York City, New York book publishing company, and member of the Guggenheim family. Biography Early life Straus was born in ...

(1917–2004), co-founder of book publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux * Rolene Strauss (born 1992), 2014 Miss South Africa and Miss World * Sagi Strauss (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 Abraham Joshua Heschel (January 11, 1907 – December 23, 1972) was a Polish-born American rabbi and one of the leading Judaism, Jewish theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century. Heschel, a professor of Jewish mysticism at the ...

, 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, (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 Strauss Airfield was an airfield in the Northern Territory of Australia in the locality of Noonamah constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip. History Construc ...

, 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

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 is a Japanese manga written by Kyo Shirodaira and illustrated by Yuri Kimura. The story centers around Strauss (a vampire king) and follows his search for his queen who has been sealed away by humans unable to defeat her thousands of years ag ...

'' * 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'' * Artie Strauss, fictional character based on the real life murderer Richard Loeb of the infamous murder duo '' Leopold and Loeb'' * Erin Strauss, fictional FBI section chief played by Jayne Atkinson in the TV series '' Criminal Minds'' * Hans and Greta Strauss, inspiration for the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel" according to the ''Buffy'' episode "

Gingerbread Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly as crisp as ...

" *

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'' * 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'' * 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