Strauss, Strauß, or Straus is a common Germanic

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. Outside Germany and Austria ''Strauß'' is usually spelled ''Strauss'' (the letter " ß" is not used in the German-speaking part of Switzerland). In classical music, "Strauss" most commonly refers to

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (; ; 25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (), was an List of Austrian composers, Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas as well ...

. The name has been used by families in the Germanic area for at least a thousand years. The overlord of Gröna, for example, went by the name of Struz and used the image of an ostrich as his symbol. Examples of it could still be seen on the thousand-year-old church bell of that town. "Struz" or "Strutz" is the North-German form of the word "Strauss", which is the modern German word for ostrich. Some of the earliest Jewish bearers of the name hailed from the Judengasse in medieval

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

, where families have been known by the name of the houses they inhabited. All the houses had names and these included Haus Strauß, complete with an image of an ostrich on the façade. When, for tax purposes,

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

made surnames obligatory in 1808, some more Jewish families decided to adopt the Straus(s) name.

Notable people

A–F

* Adolf Strauss (general) (or Strauß 1879–1973), German colonel general * Adriaan Strauss (born 1985), South African Springbok rugby union player * Andrew Strauss (born 1977), South African born former English cricket captain * Andries Strauss (born 1984), South African Springbok rugby union player; brother of Irish International Richardt Strauss and cousin of Springbok Adriaan Strauss * Annette Strauss (1924–1998), philanthropist and former mayor of Dallas, Texas * Anselm Strauss (1916–1996), American sociologist * Anton Strauss (1858-?), German-Russian engineer, inventor and entrepreneur * Astrid Strauss (born 1968), East German swimmer *

Aurora Straus Aurora Straus is a -year-old professional racecar driver in the US, a consultant, and a folk musician. She currently competes in the IMSA (racing), IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, and previously race ...

, American racecar driver * Barry S. Strauss (born 1953), American classicist and historian * Bill Strauss (footballer) (1916–1984), South African born Scottish footballer and cricketer * Billy Straus, American record producer and songwriter *

Botho Strauß Botho Strauss (; written as Botho Strauß) (born 2 December 1944) is a German playwright, novelist, and essayist. Early life His father was a chemist. After finishing his secondary education, Strauss studied German, History of the Theatre a ...

(born 1944), German writer and playwright * Bruce Strauss (born 1952), American boxer * Carolyn Strauss (born 1963), American television executive and producer * Christoph Straus (around 1580–1631), composer *

Claude Lévi-Strauss Claude Lévi-Strauss ( ; ; 28 November 1908 – 30 October 2009) was a Belgian-born French anthropologist and ethnologist whose work was key in the development of the theories of structuralism and structural anthropology. He held the chair o ...

(1908–2009), French anthropologist * D. F. M. Strauss (born 1946), South African philosopher * Darin Strauss (born 1970), American writer * David Strauss (David Friedrich Strauss or Strauß, 1808–1874), German theologian and writer * Dominique Strauss-Kahn (born 1949), French politician, former managing director of the

International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution funded by 191 member countries, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is regarded as the global lender of las ...

* Dona Strauss (born 1934), British mathematician * Donald B. Straus (1916–2007), American educator, author, political advisor * Eduard Strauss (1835–1916), Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss I * Eric Strauss (born 1960), American biologist, professor at Boston College * Ernst G. Straus (1922–1983), mathematician and assistant to Albert Einstein * Erwin Straus (1891–1975), phenomenologist and neurologist of European origin * Fabio Strauss (born 1994), Austrian footballer * Ferdinand Strauss, The founder of the mechanical toy industry in America * Franz Josef Strauss (or Strauß, 1915–1988), German politician (CSU) * Franz Strauss (1822–1905), German horn player and composer, father of Richard Strauss

G–L

* Harry L. Straus, (1896–1949), American electrical engineer, horse and cattle breeder, sportsman, entrepreneur and computer pioneer * Harry Strauss (1909–1941), contract killer for Murder, Inc. in the 1930s * Henry Strauss, 1st Baron Conesford (1892–1974), member of the British Parliament from 1935 to 1955 * Herbert A. Strauss (1918–2005), German-born American historian * Herbert D. Strauss (1909–1973), American businessman * Herbert L. Strauss (1936–2014), German-American chemist * Hugo Strauß (1907–1941), German rower * Isaac Lobe Straus (1871–1946), American politician and lawyer * Isidor Straus (1845–1912), owner of R. H. Macy Co., member of the U.S. House of Representatives, died when the steamer ''Titanic'' sank * Ivan Štraus (1928–2018), Bosnian architect * Jack Straus (1930–1988), American professional poker player * Jael Strauss, contestant in ''America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8'' * James Straus, American special effects artist and animation developer * James Strauss (flautist) (born 1974), Brazilian flautist * James D. Strauss (1929–2014), American theologian and professor * Jesse I. Straus (1872–1936), son of Isidor Straus, president of Macy's, U.S. ambassador to France 1933–36 * Jessica Straus (born 1962), American voice actress * Jo-Ann Strauss (born 1981), Miss South Africa in 2000 * Joe Straus (born 1959), politician from Texas * Joe Strauss (1858–1906), American baseball player *

Johann Strauss I Johann Baptist Strauss I (; ; 14 March 1804 – 25 September 1849), also known as Johann Strauss Sr., the Elder or the Father (), was an Austrian composer of the Romantic music, Romantic Period. He was famous for his light music, namely waltzes, ...

(1804–1849), Austrian composer (''Radetzky March''), father of Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, and Eduard Strauss *

(1825–1899), Austrian composer (''Die Fledermaus'', ''Blue Danube Waltz'') *

Johann Strauss III Johann Maria Eduard Strauss III (; ; 16 February 18669 January 1939) was an Austrian composer whose father was Eduard Strauss, whose uncles were Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss, and whose grandfather was Johann Strauss I. Born in Vienna, he w ...

(1866–1939), Austrian composer, son of Eduard Strauss * John J. Strauss (born 1957), American producer and writer of film and television * Jon Strauss, former president of Harvey Mudd College * Josef Strauss (1827–1870), Austrian composer, son of Johann Strauss I * Joseph Straus (born 1938), German patent scholar * Joseph Strauss (disambiguation), several people, including: ** Joseph Strauss (admiral) (1861–1948), American admiral ** Joseph Strauss (engineer) (1870–1938), chief engineer in the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in California * Josh Strauss (born 1986), South African rugby union player * Julius Strauss, British journalist * Julius Strauss (photographer) (1857–1924), American photographer * Kai Strauss (born 1970), German electric blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter * Karin Straus (born 1971), Dutch politician * Karl Strauss (1912–2006), German-American master brewer and co-founder of Karl Strauss Brewing Company * Kathleen N. Straus (born 1923), American educator and politician * Kim Strauss (or Kurt Strauss) (born 1953), actor * Jacobus Gideon Nel Strauss (1900–1990), aka Koos Strauss, Kosie Strauss, J. G. N. Strauss, South African politician and Leader of the opposition after Jan Smuts *

Leo Strauss Leo Strauss (September 20, 1899 – October 18, 1973) was an American scholar of political philosophy. He spent much of his career as a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, where he taught several generations of students an ...

(1899–1973), political philosopher * Levi Strauss (disambiguation), several people, including: ** Levi Strauss (1829–1902), Bavaria-born American entrepreneur and inventor of blue jeans **

, French anthropologist and ethnologist ** Dina Lévi-Strauss, French anthropologist and ethnologist, wife of the above * Lewis Strauss (1896–1974) American businessman and chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission * Lotte Strauss (1913–1985), American pathologist after which Churg–Strauss syndrome is named * Ludwig Straus (1835–1899), Hungarian-Austrian violinist

M–Z

* Maayan Strauss (born 1983), Israeli artist * Marianne Strauss (1923–1996), German Holocaust survivor * Mark L. Strauss, New Testament professor * Mark Strauss (journalist) (born 1966), American journalist * Matt Strauss, Canadian politician * Michael W. Straus (1897–1970), American government official * Mikaela Straus (born 1998), stage name King Princess, American singer-songwriter and great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus * Murray A. Straus (1926–2016), American sociologist and professor (University of New Hampshire), creator of the Conflict tactics scale * Nathan Straus (1848–1931), German-American merchant and philanthropist * Nathan Straus Jr. (1889–1961), New York journalist and politician * Neil Strauss, (born 1969) American journalist and author * Ofra Strauss (born 1960), chairperson of Israeli food products manufacturer Strauss * Oscar Straus (composer) (1870–1954), Austrian composer of operettas * Oscar Straus (politician) (1850–1926), Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt * Paul Strauss (born 1964), politician from the District of Columbia * Peter Strauss (born 1947), American actor * Ralph Straus Regula (1924–2017), politician from Beach City, Stark County, Ohio * Ray Strauss (1927–2013), Australian cricketer * Ricardo Strauss (cricketer) *

(1864–1949), German composer of operas and tone poems (''Salome'', ''Also sprach Zarathustra'') * Richard Strauss (physician) (1938–2005), subject of the Ohio State University abuse scandal * Richardt Strauss (born 1986), South African rugby union player representing Ireland internationally; brother of Springbok Andries Strauss and cousin of Springbok Adriaan Strauss * Robert Strauß (born 1986), German football player * Robert Strauss (actor) (1913–1975), American actor * Robert E Strauss (born 1983), American professional wrestler using the ring name Robbie E * Robert Schwarz Strauss (1918–2014), American diplomat * Roberto Strauss (born 1952), Mexican Olympic swimmer * Roger Williams Straus Jr. (1917–2004), co-founder of book publishers Farrar, Straus and Giroux * Rolene Strauss (born 1992), 2014 Miss South Africa and Miss World * Ruth Strauss (born 1963), English squash player * Sagi Strauss (born 1976), Israeli footballer * Stephen Straus (1946–2007), American medical researcher * Steven D. Strauss, American author and lawyer * Sylvia Straus, pianist * Thomas Strauß (born 1953), German rower * Tiaan Strauss (born 1965), South African Springbok rugby union player * Victoria Strauss (born 1955), fantasy author * Walter Alexander Strauss (born 1937), American mathematician * William Strauss, (1947–2007), American author, historian, playwright, lecturer and theorist * William M. Straus, (born 1956), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives * Zoe Strauss, (born 1970), American photographer

Fictional Strauss characters

* Mrs Strauss, an elderly client of Jimmy McGill whom he assists with estate planning in the ''Better Call Saul'' episode titled " Alpine Shepherd Boy" * Akabara Strauss, Vampire King from the manga '' The Record of a Fallen Vampire'' * Dr Arthur Strauss, fictional character who served as the original mentor of serial killer and cult leader Joe Carroll, lead character in the TV series '' The Following'' * Artie Strauss, fictional character based on the real life murderer Richard Loeb of the infamous murder duo '' Leopold and Loeb'' * Erin Strauss, fictional FBI section chief played by Jayne Atkinson in the TV series ''

Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Jeff Davis that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral ...

'' * Hans and Greta Strauss, inspiration for the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel" according to the ''Buffy'' episode " Gingerbread" * Justice Strauss, fictional character from ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' by Lemony Snicket * Leopold Strauss, loan shark and bookkeeper of the Van der Linde gang in the 2018 videogame ''

Red Dead Redemption 2 ''Red Dead Redemption 2'' is a 2018 action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. The game is the third entry in the ''Red Dead'' series and a prequel to the 2010 game ''Red Dead Redemption''. The story is set in a fictiona ...

'' * Maximilian Strauss, leader of the Tremere clan of vampires in '' Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines'' * Judge Robert Strauss, fictional character who presided over Carrie Mathison's competency hearing in '' Homeland'' * Roman Strauss, fictional conductor-composer from the 1991 psychological thriller '' Dead Again'' * Tracy Strauss, fictional character from NBC's science fiction TV series " Heroes" by Tim Kring * The Strauss siblings, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna. All three are wizards and Fairy Tail guild members from the manga '' Fairy Tail'' by Hiro Mashima

References

{{Surname Surnames of Jewish origin German-language surnames Yiddish-language surnames