Surname Graaffe - Meaning and Origin
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Graaffe: What does the surname Graaffe mean?
The last name Graaffe is an occupational surname, derived from the Old German word "graff," which refers to supervisor or various officeholders like a magistrate or a tax collector. The name was common in the late Middle Ages and is thought to have initially referred to someone who held a position of authority in a castle or other important building. Later it came to refer to those who worked in legal or administrative fields.
The name is found in a small number of countries around the world but predominantly in Germany, where it has been present since medieval times. It is also found in the United States and other countries within the English-speaking world. The spelling of the name can vary from Graaff to Graaffe.
Though often seen as a fairly rare name, the use of Graaffe still remains in various places. It can be found as a component in various place names in Germany, as well as in many family names of people of German ancestry in the United States. In addition, numerous people of all ethnicities bear the name Graaffe, such as the 17th-century English minister John Graaffe and the French novelist Antoine de Graaffe.
To sum up, the last name Graaffe is an occupational surname that likely originated in Germany during the Middle Ages and is now found throughout much of the world. It may have had different spellings over the centuries, but the basic meaning of the word—supervisor or officeholder—remains the same.
Order DNA origin analysisGraaffe: Where does the name Graaffe come from?
The surname Graaffe is most likely of German origin, but is still found across the world today. In Germany, it is most commonly found in the north-western state of Lower Saxony, particularly in the city of Hannover. Records from the 16th century suggest that the Graaffe family may have come from the city of Rostock, near the Baltic Sea.
Outside of Germany, the name is present in relatively low numbers. It is recorded in the United States, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania and Texas. Elsewhere, some instances of the name can be found in Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Jamaica – although it is generally rare in these countries.
In addition, the name is also present in the United Kingdom, mainly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Records show that the name was historically common in the counties of Angus, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.
Finally, the name is also present in some parts of South East Asia, including Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia.
Overall, the surname Graaffe is not particularly common today. It is most prevalent in Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, and is also present in small numbers in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Graaffe
Graaffe is a variant of the surname Graf, or Graf-e, which can be of German, Swiss and Jewish origin. In German, Graf or Graf-e is derived from the medieval title “Graf” meaning an administrative authority. It is an occupational surname for someone who worked in the offices of a Graf or were of noble ancestry. In Swiss-German languages, Graf-e is a diminutive form meaning “little count”. Jewish families bearing the Graf-e surname can trace their origin to Germany and Austria.
Variants of the surname Graf-e include Graaff, Graaf, Graff, Grafe, Graffe, Graff-e, Graffe-e, Graffs, Graff-s, Groff, Groff-e, Grofe, Groffe, Groff-e, Graffon, Graffons, Groffon, and Groffons.
The surname Graf-e is also quite common in the Netherlands and Belgium. Some Dutch spellings of the surname include Graf-e, Graf, Grafs-e, Graffen-e, Graffen, Graffer, Graffers, Grafers, Graefers, Graffs, Graffs-z, Grafse, Grafkes, Graafs, Graas, Grof, Grof-e, Groffen, Groffen-e, Groffer, Groffers, Grofers, and Groves.
The surname Graf-e also has French and Hungarian versions. In France, it became Graff and in Hungary, it was rendered as Grapf. In Polish and Russian, the spelling was typically spelled as Graf while in Italian it was commonly Graffo or Grafo.
In the United States, the most commonly found spelling of the surname Graf-e is Graff. In the United Kingdom, the most common spelling is Graf-e. Finally, some Middle Eastern versions of the surname are Graf and Graefe while in India, it is sometimes spelled as Gaffe.
Famous people with the name Graaffe
- Andreas Graaff: a former German footballer
- Jack Graaff: Dutch investor and entrepreneur
- Rene Graaf: Dutch baseball player
- Peter Graaff: Swiss actor and director
- Thomas Graaff: German Paralympic judo fighter
- Silke Graaff: German writer
- Rutger Graaff: Dutch rally driver
- Heinz Graaf: German photographer
- Johan Graaff: Dutch physicist
- Alexander Graaf: German entrepreneur and economist