The reference to the German and gross reminded me of something I heard many years ago.  When Beethoven was first introduced to Bach’s music he said, “Er ist kein bach.  Er ist ein gross Strom.”  Meaning, as I recall, “He is no brook.  He is a great river.”  Gross means large in German, but it can have the sub-meaning of great.  So, being named Gross isn’t necessarily bad if you know the origin.

Occam

No, but in the U.S. gross has a different meaning and you know how bad kids can be.  Her father and mother came from Germany.  They of course kept the name Gross.  She was born in the States and went to school here, so the kids were not nice to her concerning her last name.  Thus she learned to hate her maiden name.  :(