Maus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Maus

What does the name Maus mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of Austria emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Maus family. Originally, the Austrian people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Austria is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Maus is a nickname type of surname derived from the German word maus, which means mouse, and was given to a person thought to bear some resemblance to the timid animal.

Early Origins of the Maus family

The surname Maus was first found in Austria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. The name's literal meaning is "mouse catcher," or in some variations "small mouse," and stemms from the Latin form "Musculus." Chronicles first mention Ulrich Mueselin of Bamberg in 1147, Chunrich Meusel of Tirol in 1381, and L. Meisl, also of Tirol, in 1573. Gosswin Meuser is mentioned in 1268. The various branches declared allegiance to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were enlisted by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Maus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maus research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1514, 1770, 1775, 1807 and 1853 are included under the topic Early Maus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maus Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Maus include Maeusel, Meusel, Meussel, Meuser, Mauser, Mauserer, Maueser and many more.

Early Notables of the Maus family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Maus were Andreas Musculus (his real name was Meusel) (1514-81), who was an influential theologian and staunch supporter of Martin Luther. Karl...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Maus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maus Ranking

In the United States, the name Maus is the 7,815^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Maus migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Maus or a variant listed above:

Maus Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eva Maus, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 2
Michel Maus, who landed in New York in 1709 2
Parent Maus, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 2
Cathrina Maus, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 2
Peter Maus, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Maus Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Maus, aged 29, who arrived in Missouri in 1844 2
Heinr Maus, who arrived in America in 1852 2
David Maus, who arrived in America in 1852 2
Karl Maus, who arrived in America in 1853 2
Konr Maus, who landed in America in 1853 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Maus (post 1700) +

Jeanette Maus (1982-2021), American actress, known for My Effortless Brilliance, The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle; she died from COVID-19
Marion Perry Maus (1850-1930), United States Army Brigadier General, recipient of the Medal of Honor
Rodger Maus, American Emmy Award winning, Academy Award nominated art director and production designer, best known as the art director for 103 episodes of the television series M*A*S*H
John Maus (b. 1980), American avant-garde musician and composer
Paul Maus, American Republican politician, Chair of McClain County Republican Party, 2014 3
Don M. Maus, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1888 3
August Maus (1915-1996), German U-boat commander in World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Jacques Maus (b. 1905), Belgian bobsledder who competed at the 1932 Winter Olympics
Octave Maus (1856-1919), Belgian art critic, writer, and lawyer
Abraham Maus Schermerhorn (1791-1855), American politician, Mayor of Rochester, New York, 1837; Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County 2nd District, 1848 4

Historic Events for the Maus family +

Bismarck

Otto Maus (1919-1986), German Matrosengefreiter serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 5

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details