Surname von Krebs - Meaning and Origin
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von Krebs: What does the surname von Krebs mean?
The last name von Krebs is a German name and is derived from the noun “Krebs”, which means a crab. It may have been used initially as a nickname for a person with a crab-like quality, or it may have been used by a family that lived near water, where crabs were plentiful.
The “von” used in the name denotes nobility; the people who used this surname were of a higher social status. It is believed that the use of “von” is derived from Middle High German, where “von” was adopted to denote nobility.
This last name is quite common in Germany, particularly in the southern and southwestern regions. It may also have a regional origin; some von Krebs families originate from areas along the Rhine River, where the crab is especially plentiful.
It is also possible that the name was derived from a location or a geographical area in Germany. For example, in Bavaria, there is a town called Krebsach; the name von Krebs may have been used to show the family’s origins.
The von Krebs family was likely one of wealth and prominence. The use of the “von” prefix shows nobility and respect. Furthermore, the choice of “Krebs” as the surname gives insight into origins or a possible trait of the family, such as a connection to the river or water-related activities.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Krebs: Where does the name von Krebs come from?
The last name von Krebs is commonly found in Germany today, particularly in lower Saxony. Many records show that the von Krebs family is an ancient German noble house with a line of lineage dating back to the early 17th century.
The von Krebs family originally originated in Westphalia, which borders Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). Their ancestral home was located in Ahaus-Alstädt and Oberstaufenbach. They built a standing manor house in Alstädt in 1608 and continued this line of residence until 10 additional divisional branches were created in the 19th century, some of which included Castrop-Rauxel, Kuchelmissen, Bocholt, Berghausen and Ramsdorf.
Some of the von Krebs family members still reside in the Lower Saxony area today, especially around towns such as Lingen, Steinfurt, Münster, Aschendorf-Hümmling, and the Coesfeld area. It is said that there are also some related families living in North American and European countries such as the United States, Canada, and Poland.
In modern day, the von Krebs family name has endured throughout the centuries and can be found all around the world. Records show that some prominent family members include Johannes von Krebs (priest and contemporary of Johannes Calvin), and Levin Friedrich von Kreb (a grammarian and author).
Variations of the surname von Krebs
Von Krebs is a German surname originating from the word ‘Krebs’ which means ‘lobster’ or ‘crab’. Different variants and spellings of the surname crop up throughout history, depending on the region and language of the person bearing it.
Variants include Kreps, Krep, Kreb, Krepse, Crebb, Creb, Krebbs and Krepss, and also cf. Kraft; Krepel, Krapf, et al. Spellings with a ‘K’ and an ‘s’ toward the end of the word are the most common.
Surnames of the same origin include Kraps, Krapf, Krabs, Creps, Craps, Cribs, Crapf, and Krabbe. These variants are seen most commonly in various regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Another variation of the name is Kreps. This is a spelling that is seen mostly in Sweden and some other Nordic countries. It is derived from the German ‘Krep’, which, like the surname von Krebs, is derived from the word ‘Krebs’ which translates to ‘lobster’ or ‘crab’.
The name may have been taken on due to the inhabitant of the region eating or trading in lobster or crab. It is also possible that the name was taken on as an occupational name, if an ancestor of the family was involved in the fishing industry.
In conclusion, the surname von Krebs is derived from the German word ‘Krebs’ which means ‘lobster’ or ‘crab’ and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin including Kreps, Krapf, Krabs, Creps, Craps, Cribs, Crapf, Krebbs, Krepss, Kraps, and Krabbe.
Famous people with the name von Krebs
- Baron Gottfied von Krebs, German Army Officer
- Thomas von Krebs, German musicologist and professor
- Julie von Krebs, Danish theatre and film actress
- Countess Stephanie von Krebs, German royal and author
- Gottlob Freiherr von Krebs, Prussian general field marshal
- Joachim von Krebs, German Army general
- Otto von Krebs, Swedish Army major general
- Karl von Krebs, German director, screenwriter and editor
- Wilhelm Freiherr von Krebs, Prussian cavalry general
- Johann Friedrich von Krebs, Prussian Army officer and diplomat