Appendices
59
A major confusion factor in the search for information about Barbara was the spelling of Barbara’s maiden surname. Available documents give Barbara’s last name as Kraus, Krauss, Krause, Krouse, etc. In earlier notes and letters, Norma used the spelling Krauss or Krause. However, in the summary notes of chapter Kraus – Family, Norma seems to have decided that Barbara’s maiden name was likely Kraus but might be Krause – note the summary heading “Kraus Family or Krause”.
Maiden Name
The spelling of Barbara’s maiden surname was Kraus. Kraus is the spelling found in the Hutschdorf parish church records (See Chapter: Kraus – Hutschdorf Letter). And. Kraus is her maiden surname given in the marriage record of Barbara and Julius (See Chapter: Julius and Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse).
Barbara’s maiden surname is given in the Salem Lutheran Church baptism records of her children. However, these records are inconsistent – Barbara’s maiden surname appears as Krause 3 times, Kraus 2 times, and once Schuetz (See Chapter: Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse New Testament and Children Birth Records).
KRAUS – Surname Meaning
Kraus surname is derived from the Old Middle German ‘Krus’, meaning ‘’curly’’ – this name is a nickname for a person with ‘curly hair’. There are a number of alternative spellings including Kraus, Krause, Krauss, Krauze, Kruse,
See KRAUS – Surname Meaning and Family History at https://www.thoughtco.com/kraus-surname-meaning-and-origin-4098389 for a more detailed discussion of the surname Kraus .