Show ContentsStrouss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Strouss. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Strouss family.

Early Origins of the Strouss family

The surname Strouss was first found in the Altmark region, where the family emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. One source suggests that the earliest origin of the name was in fact the Principality of Cologne; but other chronicles suggest the true origin to be the ancient province of Altmark, later the duchy of Brunswick. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made these territories landmark contributors to the building of the nation.

Early History of the Strouss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strouss research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1337, 1575, 1580, 1749, 1789, 1790, 1804, 1825, 1827, 1835, 1849, 1870, 1899 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Strouss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Strouss Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Strouss include Strauss, Straus, Strous, Strouss, Strus, Struss, Straessle, Struessgen, Striuss, Strius and many more.

Early Notables of the Strouss family

Notable figures of the time with the name Strouss were Christoph Strauss (1575-1580), who was a prominent Austrian composer at the Hapsburg court. In the 19th century, the Strauss family formed a dynasty of musicians and composers. Johann (1804-1849), a violinist and band leader, began the families climb...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Strouss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Strouss migration to the United States +

Since medieval times, the state of Prussia has played an important part in the history of Germany. The state's military powers were historically very strong, and endured until after the Second World War, when the territory was broken up and divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. A spurt of migration followed, with some Prussians going elsewhere in Europe and many others crossing the ocean to North America. Most entered the United States through Philadelphia. Some remained there, while more moved on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others traveled to Canada and settled Ontario and the prairie provinces. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Strouss or a variant listed above:

Strouss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Strouss, aged 26, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1777 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Strouss (post 1700) +

  • Junius Morrison Strouss (b. 1880), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Morgantown, West Virginia, 1933; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Monongalia County, 1933-40; Appointed 1933 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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