Contents [hide]

Grosse History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Grosse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The history of the Grosse family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Grosse is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Grosse is a name for a large person. This family name is derived from the German word gross, indicating prodigious size.

Early Origins of the Grosse family

The surname Grosse was first found in Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Guenther Gross, founder of the Bavarian line von Trockau, appeared as early as 1097, when he fought under Gottfried von Bouillon against the infidels; after his period of service he settled in Franconia.

Early History of the Grosse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grosse research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1501 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Grosse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grosse 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 Grosse include Gross, Grose, Groes, Grosse, Groess, Groesse and many more.

Early Notables of the Grosse family

More information is included under the topic Early Grosse Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grosse Ranking

In the United States, the name Grosse is the 15,816^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Grosse is ranked the 2,781^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2

Grosse migration to the United States +

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 Grosse or a variant listed above:

Grosse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Grosse, aged 20, who arrived in New England in 1635 3
Isaac Grosse, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 3
Nicholas Grosse, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 3
Edmund Grosse, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1654 3
Margaret Grosse, who settled in America in 1659
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grosse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Friedrick Grosse, aged 25, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 3
Ferdinand Grosse, aged 29, who landed in Missouri in 1840 3
Moritz Grosse, aged 26, who landed in Missouri in 1840 3
Franz Arnold Grosse, who arrived in America in 1848 3
Ferdinand Gotthilf Grosse, who landed in Desterro, Brazil in 1850 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grosse migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Grosse Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Traugott Grosse, aged 33, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 4

Grosse migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Grosse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Grosse, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Grosse (post 1700) +

Demetrius Grosse (b. 1981), American actor and producer, best known for his role as Rock in the feature film Straight Outta Compton
Catrin G. Grosse (b. 1964), also known as Catrin Große, a German painter, graphic designer and sculptor
Katharina Grosse (b. 1961), German artist, known for her work in architecture, sculpture and painting
Hans-Werner Grosse (1922-2021), German Luftwaffe bomber pilot and glider pilot who established 50 world records approved by FAI Gliding Commission
Léon Grosse, French founder of Léon Grosse, a French civil engineering and construction firm in 1881, now with over 2,300 employees
Maurice Grosse (1919-2006), British paranormal investigator, famous for his involvement in the Enfield Poltergeist case from 1977 to 1979
Julius Grosse (1828-1902), German poet and author from Munich

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm