A surname of German or Dutch origin, also referring to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Can also be a variant spelling of 'hase' meaning hare in some Germanic languages.
From Middle High German 'hase' meaning hare or rabbit, originally a nickname for someone thought to resemble a hare in some way - perhaps quick, timid, or having prominent ears. Common in German and Dutch speaking regions, later spreading through immigration.
Like many surnames derived from animals, Haas reveals medieval societies' tendency to nickname people after creatures whose traits they seemed to embody. The hare was particularly significant in Germanic folklore as a symbol of fertility and quick thinking, making it a surprisingly flattering nickname for our ancestors.
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