Show ContentsKratz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Kratz surname was originally an occupational name for someone who carded wool, or performed a similar occupation.

Early Origins of the Kratz family

The surname Kratz was first found in Bavaria, where the name Kratz was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Kratz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kratz research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1419, 1487, 1550, 1654, 1663, 1668 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Kratz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kratz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kratz, Kratzer, Kratsch, Kratzen, Kratzenberg, Cratz, Cratze, Cratzen, Cratzer, Cratzern, Cratzenmann and many more.

Early Notables of the Kratz family

Prominent among members of the name Kratz in this period include

  • Hugo Eberhard Kratz von Scharsenstein, Bishop of Worms (1654 to 1663)

Kratz Ranking

In the United States, the name Kratz is the 7,268th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Kratz migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kratz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Valentin Kratz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "Friendship of Bristol" [2]
  • Valentine Kratz, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1743 [2]
  • Andreas Kratz, aged 40, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [2]
  • Albertus Kratz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1771 [2]
  • Guillaume Kratz, who landed in America in 1777-1783 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kratz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Ph Kratz, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 [2]
  • Peter Kratz, aged 27, who landed in Missouri in 1840 [2]
  • F Kratz, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 [2]
  • Christopher Kratz, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 [2]
  • Joh Kratz, who arrived in America in 1852 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Kratz migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kratz Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Kratz Johann Leonard U.E., "Leonhard Scratch" who settled in Canada c. 1784 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Kratz (post 1700) +

  • Clayton Kratz (1898-1920), American Mennonite relief worker from the Pennsylvania
  • Erik Floyd Kratz (b. 1980), American Major League Baseball catcher
  • Xavier F. Kratz, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from New Haven, 1910 [4]
  • W. H. Kratz, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1896 [4]
  • Maxwell Kratz, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1956 [4]
  • M. C. Kratz, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1956 [4]
  • Joseph Kratz, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Orange, 1910, 1912 [4]
  • Henry W. Kratz, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Montgomery County, 1895-98 [4]
  • Charles Kratz, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1900 [4]
  • Carol Ann Kratz, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1980 [4]
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook