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 or powerful man, from Middle High German kraft, "strength". It could also come from an old personal name of the same root, used in Franconia and Swabia in the Middle Ages. The name is found throughout southern and western Germany. Emigrants took it to Pennsylvania and the Midwest, where it was sometimes written Craft, and James L. Kraft founded the cheese company in Chicago. In the Middle Ages, Kraft or Craft was used as a personal name among the nobility in Franconia and Swabia, especially among the counts of Hohenlohe. The nickname origin is also found in the related surname Krafft. The name is found in Switzerland, Austria and Alsace as well. Kraft families were among the large numbers of German emigrants who went to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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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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.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).