Last Name Krogh

The surname Krogh is of Scandinavian origin, particularly Danish and Norwegian. It comes from the Old Norse term "krog" which means a small, sheltered cove or harbor. In the Middle Ages, it was a topographic name for someone who lived near such a place, or an occupational name for someone who worked in a small sheltered harbor. The spelling variations of this surname include Krogh, Crogh, Crock, and other similar forms.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Krogh

The meaning and origin of the last name Krogh

The surname Krogh originates from Scandinavia, specifically Denmark and Norway. It is derived from the Old Norse word "krog," which means "corner" or "cove." Initially, it was a topographical name for someone who lived by a corner or bend in a river or coastline. Over time, it became a habitational name for someone who lived near a place called Kroge in Denmark and Norway. The surname Krogh has various spellings including Crogg, Krog, and Crogh, which are all variants of the original Scandinavian name. It is a relatively common surname among Danes and Norwegians, with notable individuals bearing the name, such as the Danish zoologist Peter Krog (1856-1927) and the American author and journalist Walter S. Krogh (1848-1907).

Geographical distribution of the last name Krogh

The surname Krogh is predominantly of Danish origin and is most commonly found in Denmark, particularly in regions such as Zealand, Jutland, and Funen. Historically, it was also distributed among Danish settlers in Norway and Iceland. Outside of Scandinavia, the name can be found in various parts of the world due to Danish immigration and emigration patterns. In North America, significant populations bearing the Krogh surname can be found in Canada, particularly in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, as well as in the United States, primarily in states with a strong Scandinavian presence such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California. Additionally, Australia and New Zealand have smaller but noticeable communities with the Krogh surname, due to Danish emigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Krogh

The surname Krogh has multiple variations and spellings due to transliteration and local dialects. Some common variants include Crogh, Crok, Croich, Crooge, Croug, Krough, Krugh, and Krug. These variations can be found in various countries, with Danish-speaking regions often using the original spelling of Krogh. In other languages, such as German or English, slight modifications may occur due to linguistic assimilation. It is essential to note that these variants do not necessarily indicate different names but rather different transliterations or regional adaptations of the same name.

Famous people with the last name Krogh

Notable individuals with the surname Krogh include:

1. Ane Krogh (1893-1985), a Danish bacteriologist who was the first to discover the nutritional need for biotin in humans. She shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947 with her husband, Hermann J. Muller, for their work on genetics.

2. Bent Krogh (1897-1964), a Danish physiologist and brother of Ane Krogh. He made significant contributions to the understanding of muscle physiology and received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920 as part of a team for his work on capillary circulation.

3. Erik Krogh (born 1942), a Danish Olympic gold medalist fencer who won individual foil events at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics.

4. Per Krogh (1935-2009), a Danish physicist and oceanographer known for his work on deep sea thermodynamics, bioluminescence, and underwater acoustics. He co-developed the KROGH function in physical oceanography.

5. Richard T. Krogh (1920-2014), an American polar explorer and marine zoologist who led several expeditions to Antarctica, including the 1961 U.S. Antarctic Research Program expedition. He was also a member of the first team to cross the Greenland ice cap on skis in 1957.

Genealogical research on the last name Krogh

The surname Krogh originates from Scandinavia, specifically Denmark and Norway. It is derived from the Old Norse word "krog" meaning 'corner' or 'crooked', often used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a bend in a road or river. The name Krogh can also be found in Iceland due to Viking expansion. In Denmark, notable figures with this surname include the physicist Niels Bohr, who made significant contributions to quantum theory and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. In Norway, Hans Egede Krogh, a prominent painter, is known for his landscapes of his native country. The Krogh family can also be traced back to several influential figures in Icelandic history, such as Jón Krogh, a prominent 18th-century merchant and politician.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Krogh"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 28 July 2025

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