Surname Graaf - Meaning and Origin
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Graaf: What does the surname Graaf mean?
Graaf is a Dutch and German surname derived from the Dutch and German word graaf, meaning “count” or “earl”. This surname is also commonly spelled Graff, Graf, or Graff. It is primarily associated with a noble title from the Middle Ages, with the title being the equivalent of a British count or earl or a French comte in the United Kingdom.
The Graaf surname has a long and illustrious history in Europe, which began with Charlemagne and spread throughout Europe. As the Holy Roman Empire was divided up over time and the feudal system grew, the title of Graf began to take on more administrative duties in addition to important social roles. For instance, in the Netherlands, a Graf was responsible for collecting and paying taxes to the King, organizing a local militia, and keeping records relating to land and property.
Due to the frequent use of this term in Europe, the use of the Graaf surname spread beyond its original borders. A great number of people with the surname have immigrated to the United States, Canada, and Australia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of these immigrants took the Graaf surname as their own while others adopted it through marriage. In more recent years, people of non-European countries, such as Japan, Korea, and China, have also taken on the name.
Today, the Graaf surname is associated with wealth and status, although this does not necessarily reflect the reality of the situation. Members of the family often come from all walks of life, with the title not necessarily being indicative of social, financial, or political standing. Yet it is a name that evokes a sense of prestige and importance that many find both intriguing and inspiring.
Order DNA origin analysisGraaf: Where does the name Graaf come from?
The last name Graaf is a Dutch surname meaning Count or Nobleman. It is primarily found in Holland, but is also common in other countries like Belgium, Germany, South Africa, the United States, and Canada.
In Holland, Graaf is one of the top 100 surnames, with more than 11,000 people registered in 2019. The city of Zwolle, located in the Overijssel province of Holland, has the largest concentration of Graafs, making up over 1.2% of the population there. In other parts of Holland, it is not as common, but still widely found.
In Europe, Graaf is the 27th most common surname in Belgium, with about 10,000 people having the name. In Germany, the name is slightly less common, with an estimated 8,500 people having it.
In the United States, Graaf is ranked number 5,744 in terms of surname popularity. Most of the people with this surname live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. However, it can still be found throughout the country.
Canada is also home to a large population of Graafs. According to the Canadian Census of 2016, there were 4,265 people registered with the last name - making it the 4,283rd most common surname in Canada.
Overall, the surname Graaf is quite common throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the US, and Canada. While it may not be one of the most common surnames in most of these countries, it is still widely found in each of these places.
Variations of the surname Graaf
The surname Graaf is a Dutch and German topographic name for someone who lived near or on a ridge, from the Middle High German graf, 'embankment', 'grave', or 'ditch'. It can also be an occupational name for 'Count' or a party-title for 'diplomat' or a military official.
Variants of the surname Graaf include Graaf, Graff, Graeff, Graffs, Graef, Graf, Grafe, Graeffs, Grafes, Graffes, Grafon, Greff, Greffs, Graffen, Grafsen, Grafens, Graffenreuth, Grafein, Grafen, Graffenried, Grafenstein, Graefeck, Graffenhagen, and Grafton.
In German, the surname is sometimes spelled Graf, Grafe, Grafen, Graff, Graffen, Graffenstein, Graefen, Graffenreuth, Grafenried, Graffeck, Graffenreiter, Graffecker, Grafenberg, and Grafenberger.
In Dutch, some variants might include Graffen, Graver, Graaven, Graaf, Graaff, Graffenreuter, Grafeler, Graffenberg, Graffenried, Graeff, Graffenreider, Grafensteiner, Graffin, Graffenrier, Graffensteiner, and Graffenreuther.
In Dutch, when the surname is dropped with the suffixes -sen or -s, then it becomes Grafs and Graafs. Alternatively, the surname Graf can be spelled Graven. Occasionally, the -s or -sen part is used as well to form Grafsen and Graafsen.
In France, the name appears as Grafon or Graffen.
In Anglophone countries, the spelling of the surname Graaf is most commonly Grafton, Graff, and Graffin.
Famous people with the name Graaf
- Albeda Graaf: Dutch actor, director and screenwriter.
- Anton Graaf: Dutch poet and journalist.
- Arnold Graaf: Dutch military officer.
- Hugo Graaf: German computer scientist and author.
- Hugo van der Graaf: Dutch football player.
- Jan de Graaf: Dutch entrepreneur and inventor.
- Jan van der Graaf: Dutch football player.
- John de Graaf: American filmmaker and author.
- Kevin Graaf: Dutch football player.
- Martin Graaf: Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter.
- Maud van der Graaf: Dutch cyclist.
- Pieter de Graaf: Dutch businessman.
- Reint Graaf: Dutch politician.
- Rika van der Graaf: Dutch model.
- Ruud Graaf: Dutch politician.
- Willem van der Graaf: Dutch physicist and electrical engineer.