Kraft Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Kraft last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Kraft last name
Meaning of the Kraft last name: strength, a nickname for a strong man. Kraft is a nickname for a strong man, from Middle High German kraft, "strength", or from an old personal name of the same root. The surname is found throughout southern and western Germany, and emigrants took it to Pennsylvania and the Midwest.
Strength, sculpture and space flight
Kraft is the German word for "strength" or "power", and the surname began as a nickname for a strong man. It also continues an old given name, Krafto, so some Kraft families descend from a forefather of that name.
Forebears estimates about 49,000 bearers in Germany and 30,000 in the United States, where the 2010 Census counted 22,035 (ranked 1,635th). The name also appears in Russia (3,000), probably a legacy of German colonists on the Volga. The late-Gothic sculptor Adam Kraft of Nuremberg, NASA flight director Christopher Kraft and James L. Kraft, founder of Kraft Foods, give some idea of its range.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Kraft name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Kraft name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Austria and Switzerland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The complete Kraft pack goes much further: researched origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Kraft name FAQ
What does the Kraft name mean?
Strength, a nickname for a strong man. Common variants include Krafft, Kraffert, Craft.
Where does the Kraft surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Kraft coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Kraft crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Kraft coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
What does Kraft mean?
"Strength" or "power" in German.
Why is Kraft found in Russia?
German settlers invited to the Volga region in the 18th century brought the name with them.
Kraft family history and famous bearers
Who else has carried the name? See famous people named Kraft. For research tips, read Kraft family history and genealogy.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford). Facts and figures: Forebears surname distribution (estimates); US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file; Wikipedia, "Kraft (surname)". Forebears figures are modelled estimates, rounded.