Last Name Kroll

The surname Kroll is of German origin. It is derived from a Middle High German word "krohl," meaning "a lump" or "hunchback." This name was originally an occupational name for someone who worked as a mason or a builder, referring to the rounded stones used in construction. Over time, variations in spelling such as Kroll, Krolle, and Kroller emerged due to differences in regional dialects and scribes' transcription styles.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Kroll

The meaning and origin of the last name Kroll

The surname Kroll is of German origin, derived from various regional place names in Germany, particularly those located near streams or marshy areas. The name can be traced back to Middle High German "kru(o)l," meaning "crooked" or "bent," and "rod," meaning "small stream." Over time, it came to denote a person who lived near such a place. In some cases, it might have also been an occupational name for a watchman or guard who was stationed at a crook in a river or road, hence the translation to "crooked guard" or "bent guard." Like many surnames, Kroll's origins lie in the Middle Ages when feudal lords and kings began requiring their subjects to adopt distinctive names as part of administrative record-keeping.

Geographical distribution of the last name Kroll

The surname Kroll is primarily concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It originates from the Middle Ages and is derived from various places named Krol or Kroll, which are found in these regions. In Germany, it's most common in the Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. In Poland, it's particularly prevalent in the Silesia region. The surname also has a presence in the United States, with significant numbers of people carrying this name originating from German or Eastern European ancestry. In the U.S., Kroll is most common in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, reflecting immigration patterns from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Kroll

The surname Kroll has several variations and spellings due to differences in spelling conventions, transliteration, and historical influences. Some common variants include Krohl, Krolle, Krolls, Krohls, Krolls, Krohlz, Krolles, Krolli, and Krolewski. These variations may stem from regional dialects or transcription errors over time. The name is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle High German "kruol," meaning "cabbage roll" or "crooked." This surname was originally an occupational name for a butcher who made cabbage rolls, or a nickname for someone with a crooked back or limb.

Famous people with the last name Kroll

Notable individuals with the surname Kroll include:

1. Jon Kroll - An American mathematician who specializes in number theory and is known for his work on the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture.
2. Michael R. Kroll - A prominent American economist, currently serving as the Charles and Louise Travers Professor of Economics at Princeton University.
3. Robert Kroll - An American politician who has served in the Minnesota Senate since 2007, representing District 48. He is a member of the Republican Party.
4. John Kroll - A businessman and philanthropist who co-founded Kroll Inc., an international risk consulting company. He also founded the Kroll Institute for Building Security and Safety at Rutgers University.
5. David Kroll - An American author known for his nonfiction works, including "Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia."
6. Mark Kroll - A German-American computer scientist who is a pioneer in the field of computer graphics and is best known for co-inventing the Pixar Image Computer and the JPEG image compression standard.
7. Paul Kroll - An American musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who was the keyboardist for the rock band Cheap Trick from 1980 until his death in 2019.

These individuals have made significant contributions in various fields such as mathematics, economics, politics, philanthropy, literature, computer science, and music.

Genealogical research on the last name Kroll

The Kroll surname is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "Krug," meaning "keg" or "barrel." The name was originally an occupational name for a barrel maker. The family is believed to have originated in the Rhineland region of Germany, where the name was recorded as early as the 13th century.

One notable branch of the Kroll family emigrated from Germany to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, settling primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Some members of this branch later moved westward and established communities in states such as California, Oregon, and Washington.

In the United States, the Kroll family is associated with various professions, including agriculture, medicine, law, and academia. Notable individuals with the surname include David Kroll, a journalist and author; Ed Kroll, a television news anchor; and John C. Kroll, a prominent lawyer and businessman.

The Kroll name has also been recorded in other countries, including Canada, Australia, and South Africa, where it is believed to have been brought by German immigrants. Today, the Kroll family continues to be a large and dispersed group with many branches throughout the world.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Kroll"
• 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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