| {{ad}} |
|
|
|
| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
Bavaria, one of the oldest and largest of the German states, is the birthplace of the Schraeger family. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules. Names derived from occupations were particularly common in this region. Schraeger is an occupational surname for person who was associated with the building of cross-legged stands and tables. In its medieval context, the word "schrage" literally meant "crooked" or "crossed," and it may have been given to those whose profession it was to make and sell tables and stands of this description.
The surname Schraeger was first found in Bavaria, where the family rose to prominence early in the mediaeval era. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Egelolf Schrage of Wuerttemberg (c.1273,) Marquard Schrage of Luebeck (c.1347,) and one "Schraeglin" of Esslingen (c.1359).
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schraeger research. Another 220 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1777, 1791, 1797, 1806, 1815 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Schraeger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Schraeger include Schrage, Schragel, Schrag, Schrager, Schrege, Schregel, Schraegl, Schreg, Schreger, Schraege, Schraegel, Schraeg, Schraeger, Schragl, Schragle, Schregl, Schregle, Schraeglin, Schreglin, Schraegen, Schregen and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Schraeger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Schraeger or a variant listed above: Johan Schrage, who settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1693 and Johannes Schrag, who came to Pennsylvania in 1766. A large group of interrelated Swiss Mennonite families, including Andreas, Froni, Franz, and Jacob Schrag came from Russia to the port of New York in 1874. Andreas Schrager emigrated to England and then possibly America in 1709.