Surname Krabat - Meaning and Origin

Krabat: What does the surname Krabat mean?

The surname Krabat is of Central European origin and can be found in Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and other Eastern European countries. The name is derived from the German word “krabbeln” or “to crawl” and is an occupational name for a crab fisherman or crab catcher. This surname could have originally been an occupational name for a person who was involved in the fishing or processing of crabs and other sea creatures, suggesting those bearing the name are descended from a long line of fishermen.

The name is also related to the Czech-language novel The Covenant of Krabat written by Otfried Preussler in 1971 and made into a movie in 2008. The book is about its eponymous protagonist, Krabat, an orphan living in a miller’s house with other boys who are under the sway of an evil sorcerer. The story is considered a classic of European children’s literature, and the name Krabat has become closely associated with it ever since its publication.

Overall, the surname Krabat is a unique surname, especially in the countries of its origin. It started out as an occupational name but has become closely connected with the classic children’s book The Covenant of Krabat. In modern times, the surname is an old-fashioned but recognizable surname, that is steeped in history and folklore.

Krabat: Where does the name Krabat come from?

The last name Krabat is predominantly a German name. It is primarily found in northern Germany, especially in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hamburg. As well as in parts of Poland and former countries of the Soviet Union.

The last name Krabat is derived from a Slavic word for water basin, and likely a reference to Low German word krabben, meaning to scratch. Other spellings of this surname include Krapat, Krapatte, Krapotte, and Krabbat.

The name is most notably associated with a German novel called The Satanic Mill or the Legend of Krabat. The book is based on a morality tale about a young apprentice miller in a social group of supernatural sorcerers, and is an integral part of the German literary canon.

The novel was adapted to film in 2008 and has become a part of modern German culture. This means that the last name Krabat is still today associated with this character, though whether or not those with the Caucasian surname Krabat are related to the character or the novel is debatable.

What is certain is that the last name Krabat is still prevalent in Germany and nearby countries today. It is likely that due to the cultural relevance of the story and the association of Krabat, the name will still be associated with the novel for many decades to come.

Variations of the surname Krabat

The surname Krabat is of German origin. Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:

Krapat, Krappat, Krabath, Krapot, Krappot, Krappott, Krabott, Krabopp, Kraebber, Kraebel, Kraebiehl, Kraebles, Kraeble, Kraepel, Kraeppel, Kraelle, Kramm, Kral, Kralm, Krall, Kramml, Kramll, Kran, Krantz, Krapatz, Krapp, Krappat, Kratsch, Krave, Kravec, Kravitz, Krämer, Kraemer, Kramers, Kromer, Krommer, Kremers, Kremmer, Krempel, Krepel, Kreppel, Kriebel, Kriegel, Kriepel, Kriesel, Krinze, Krips, Kroehl, Kroeger, Kroeger Ohio, Krogel, Krogmann, Krom, Krone, Kropf, Krüger, Kruger, Krümmel, Kruemel, Krumbholz, Kruse, Krusen, Kruskop, Kruskopp, Krutz, Krüttgen, Kurras, Kuzma, Kuzma Wisconsin and Kuus.

The variants and surnames for Krabat are derived from a variety of sources, ranging from Germanic language roots to specific locations and neologisms. For example, Krapat is derived from the Germanic language root ‘Krapate’ which means to ‘scrape’ or ‘shave’, while Kraebber likely is a variation of the German ‘Kraeber’ which translates to ‘craven’. Similarly, Kuzma is a nickname version of the Czechoslovakian surname ‘Kuzmin’ and ‘Kuus’ is a Finlands Swedish variant of the surname.

In its various spellings, the surname Krabat is found throughout Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Finland and the United States.

Famous people with the name Krabat

• Karl Krabat: A German actor best known for his role in the movie 'Der Urmarker' and for recording the audiobook of 'The Seven Ravens'.
• John Krabat: An American actor most well-known for his role in the movie 'Nightcrawler' and his roles on the television show 'The West Wing'.
• Simon Krabat: A German actor best known for his roles in the films 'Go Trabi Go' and 'Die letzte Chance', as well as for his many stage appearances.
• Andreas Krabat: A German voice actor most known for dubbing animated shows such as 'The Simpsons' and 'Powerpuff Girls'.
• Heinrich Krabat: A German writer of historical films and television shows, most notably the feature film 'Die Goldene Nacht'.
• Alfred Krabat: A German composer and musician best known for creating the score for the Broadway revival of 'Romanticism'.
• Andrew Krabat: An American film director and producer best known for the Academy Award-nominated documentaries 'Food, Inc.' and 'Waiting for Superman'.
• Joseph Krabat: An American author and illustrator best known for his work on the 'Spy Dog' series.
• Helmut Krabat: A German actor noted for his roles in several films, such as 'Die Fälscher' and 'The Invincibles'.
• Markus Krabat: A German musician and music producer, best known for his work on the techno music album 'Vinyl Laredo'.

Other surnames

Krabath