Kraft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Kraft is derived from the Old German word "craft," which means "strong" or "courageous." In the early Middle Ages, Kraft was a popular first name among knights because it referred to strength. In the early 14th century, a number of branches in southern Germany adopted Kraft or Craft as a family name.
Early Origins of the Kraft family
The surname Kraft was first found in Bavaria, where the family made a considerable contribution to the feudal society which shaped modern Europe. The family branched into several houses, all of which played an important role in the local political conflicts which forged the nation. In the early Middle Ages, the name was a popular first name taken on by knights. In the early 14th century, a number of branches in southern Germany developed around Kraft or Craft as a family name. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include the famous minstrel Count Kraft von Toggenburg from the Thurgau region, and Hans Kraft of Wuerzburg (c.1409).
Early History of the Kraft family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kraft research. Another 314 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1429, 1507, 1552, 1679, 1749, 1770, 1778, 1805, 1813, 1820 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Kraft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kraft Spelling Variations
One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Kraft include Kraft, Krafft, Kraftt, Krafte, Kraffte, Krafter, Kraften, Kraefte, Kraeft, Kreft, Krefte, Craft, Crafft, Crafte, Craffte, Craeft and many more.
Early Notables of the Kraft family
Prominent among members of the name Kraft in this period include
- Adam Krafft (Kraft) (1429-1507), who was a famous Nuremberg sculptor...
- Anton Kraft (1749-1820) was a composer and friend of Haydn...
Kraft Ranking
In the United States, the name Kraft is the 1,716th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1
Kraft migration to the United States +
European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Krafts to arrive in North America, and among them were:
Kraft Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Valentin and Matthew Kraft, both of whom arrived in America with their wives and children in 1709
- Valenteyn Kraft, who landed in New York in 1709 2
- Gotfried Kraft, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
- Fredrick Kraft, aged 52, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
- Valentin Kraft, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kraft Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Christopher Kraft, who landed in America in 1832 2
- Christian Kraft, who landed in America in 1840 2
- Anna Maria Kraft, who arrived in America in 1840 2
- Caspar Kraft, aged 40, who landed in Missouri in 1840 2
- Ferdinand Kraft, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kraft Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Elisabeth Kraft, aged 47, who arrived in New York, NY in 1902 2
- Emil Kraft, who arrived in Alabama in 1920 2
- Elizabeth Emma Fastina Kraft, who landed in Alabama in 1929 2
Kraft migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Kraft Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- John Kraft, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Contemporary Notables of the name Kraft (post 1700) +
- James Lewis Kraft (1874-1953), Canadian cheese marketer, who moved to Chicago and founded J.L. Kraft & Bros. Co. with his brothers in 1909, the first to patent processed cheese
- William Kraft (1923-2022), American composer, conductor, teacher, timpanist, and percussionist
- Jean Kraft (1927-2021), American operatic mezzo-soprano, a favorite of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she remained a fixture until 1989
- David Anthony Kraft (1952-2021), American comic book writer, publisher, and critic, best known as a comic book author and his work on Marvel Comics' The Defenders
- Jonathan A. Kraft (b. 1964), American businessman, President of The Kraft Group
- Robert Kraft, American songwriter, film composer, recording artist and record producer, President of Fox Music from 1994 to 2012
- Charles William Kraft Jr. (1903-2002), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1956-1970)
- Rev. Dr. Charles H. Kraft (b. 1932), American evangelical Christian apologist, anthropologist and linguist
- Robert Kenneth Kraft (b. 1941), American business magnate, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group
- Robert Paul "Bob" Kraft (b. 1927), American astronomer
- ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Kraft family +
Bismarck
- Hans Kraft (1921-1941), German Fernschreibergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 3
Suggested Readings for the name Kraft +
- Kraft Family Genealogy by Susan Kaplan Stone.
- Schnitz and Plum Pudding by Eunice M. Brake.
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details