Surname Kreuzer - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Ancestral Roots and History Through my Surname Kreuzer from iGENEA DNA Reveals
In an enlightening journey unveiling my lineage through an iGENEA DNA test, fascinating discoveries related to my surname, Kreuzer, surfaced. Hailing from German origin, it brought to light the cultural and historical richness within each syllable, deepening understanding about my ancestors' lives.
V. Kreuzer
read moreKreuzer: What does the surname Kreuzer mean?
The last name Kreuzer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "kreuzer" and is related to the old German word "kreuz", meaning “cross”. It is believed to be an occupational name for a maker or seller of crucifixes. Alternatively, it may have been derived from a personal name, Kreutzer, which was once popularly used as a nickname.
In the Middle Ages, the Crucifix was the most common form of devotion in the Christian Church. As an integral part of the Church’s decor, a wooden cross was often hung in every room of a home, and crucifixes symbolizing Christ’s crucifixion surrounded by metal, porous, or wood elements were used in religious ceremonies as a sign of faith. As a result, Kreuzers could have been involved in the crafting, selling and distributing of these devotional symbols throughout European towns and villages.
The surname Kreuzer is also believed to have been used to denote a crossroads resident or tenant of a property marked with a cross. Generally speaking, the last name is considered to be a topographic name, associated with people who lived near significant crossroads or monuments.
In more recent times, the name Kreuzer has become quite a popular one in Germany, with a few notable celebrities bearing the name, including a film director and an international tennis champion. Today, the Kreuzer surname can be found across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world, as German immigrants have spread the name to far corners of the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisKreuzer: Where does the name Kreuzer come from?
The last name Kreuzer is commonly found today in Germany. It is most commonly found in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany. In 2019, the name Kreuzer ranked as the 1728th most common family name in Germany, with more than 12,000 people sharing the surname.
Kreuzer is derived from the German word kreuz, meaning "cross." As such, it was historically a given name, with the last name being derived from it. This is evidenced by older records of the name appearing as a first name and later becoming a surname.
In terms of its global distribution, the last name Kreuzer is most common in Germany, but it can also be found in Austria and the United States. In the United States, the name is particularly common in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and California.
Kreuzers have existed in Germany since medieval times, although the exact origin of the name remains unknown. It is possible that Kreuzers were originally priests or had some other connection to the Catholic church. Alternatively, some believe that the name first appeared when Germanic tribes moved into the region and gave new surnames to the people who lived there.
The last name Kreuzer is a reminder of Germany's long and varied past, and the name carries on in the form of numerous modern-day families who proudly bear it.
Variations of the surname Kreuzer
Kreuzer is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word "kruozer," which means "cross." Spellings of the surname vary depending on the region in which the family resides, with some of the more common variations being Kreuter, Kreuzer, Kreyzer, Krizer, Kreuzberger, Krouzer, Kreicz, Krouze, Crueser, Kröger, Kroos, and Krooszer. An Italian variant is Creusso.
In Germany, the Kreuzer surname is most heavily concentrated in Bavaria, followed by the states of Lower Saxony and Baden-Wurttemberg. Variations of the surname also exist, such as Kuhnke, Kreutz, Creutz and Kroetz, primarily in Northern Germany. In Austria the Kreuzer family is concentrated in the states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
Within the United States, the Kreuzer surname is most often spelled Kreuzer, with spelling variations such as Kreyzer, Krizer and Kruzer. Variants of the surname are also found in France and parts of Italy.
Overall, the Kreuzer surname is found across parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, parts of Italy, France and the United States. Variations in spelling and surname forms of Kreuzer have arisen from regional language variations, as well as the migration of individuals and families.
Famous people with the name Kreuzer
- Bobby Kreuzer: Former NHL player who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1975 NHL amateur draft.
- Tom Kreuzer: Former German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag from 1990 to 1998.
- Helmut Kreuzer: Austrian chemist who discovered the uranium hexafluoride reaction in 1936.
- Jim Kreuzer: Former Major League Baseball player who played for the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds in the late 60s and early 70s.
- Karl Kreuzer: German-American engineer who invented the first continuous-flow breathing apparatus for firefighters, the Kreuzer Kompressor, in 1908.
- Thorsten Kreuzer: German football player who currently plays for TSV 1860 Munich II.
- Nico Kreuzer: German banker who was a member of the board of directors of Commerzbank AG from 2012 to 2017.
- Wilhelm Kreuzer: Austrian composer who wrote numerous works for piano, including Six Mélodies op. 4 for voice and accompaniment.
- Fred Kreuzer: Austrian-born American sculptor who created the likeness of Simon Bolivar in Washington D.C.'s Meridian Hill Park.
- Paul Kreuzer: German entrepreneur who founded a winery in the Moselle region, which produces several varieties of white and sparkling wines.