Surname Graewe - Meaning and Origin
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Graewe: What does the surname Graewe mean?
The ancestral last name Graewe has its origins in German roots. The literal meaning of the name is derived from the Middle High German word "grawe," which translates to mean "female crow." This label might be a reference to the characteristics of a blackbird as a symbol of watchfulness and intelligence.
The Graewe surname came into use during the 16th century, when last names were assigned to families in order to distinguish them from other households. During this time, last names were also used to trace one’s lineage and a person’s geographical origin. It is likely that the Graewe surname is derived from a region specific to the Palatinate or Hesse regions, as these parts of Germany were most heavily associated with this type of bird.
Today, individuals who trace their lineages to the Graewe surname continue to uphold their heritage by using the name to represent their shared history and ancestry. When researching the Graewe surname, one may discover the many different families who have held it throughout time, adding to the breadth of this surname’s history. This warm reminder of family and tradition has been passed down through generations to those who currently bear the Graewe name.
Order DNA origin analysisGraewe: Where does the name Graewe come from?
The last name Graewe is most common today in Germany and other German-speaking areas of Europe, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It is also found in the United States, where it has been carried to by immigrants from Germany. Other places where the name occurs in smaller numbers include the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Switzerland, Denmark, and Sweden.
The Graewe surname originates from Germany, deriving from the personal name Grawe, which is derived from the Old German word “grafo”, meaning “count”. It is a surname of nobility, indicating that at one time, there were people in the family line who had the position of Count. The spelling of this surname had variations through time, from Grawe, Grauer, Graweh, Graef, and even Graewe.
Today, the name Graewe is not especially common, with just under 64 people in Germany alone sharing the name. Outside of Germany, the name occurs in smaller numbers and is largely confined to places with German-speaking populations.
Variations of the surname Graewe
The surname Graewe is thought to have been derived from the Middle High German word ‘grewe’, meaning count, or the Old High German word ‘grab’, meaning man. The variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin for the surname Graewe include;
Graw, Gräwe, Grap, Groh, Grohé, Gröhl, Grau, Graue, Gràu, Grauh, Grauw, Grauwe, Grauh, Grauhe, Graewe, Grewe, Graub, Grauby, Greb, Grebe, Greppinger, Grub, Gruh, Gruher, Grube and Grüne.
The surname Graewe can also be seen spelled in various other countries. In Poland, it is spelt as ‘Grajewo’, in Germany, it’s ‘Graw’, in Austria it is ‘Gröb’ and in Sweden it is ‘Grawé’ or ‘GrawéH’.
Most of the Graewe surnames are found in Germany, France, Belgium, the United States and Canada. The Graewe surname is also found in other countries such as Switzerland, Russia, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and the Scandinavian countries. Although it is a rarer name, it is gaining more popularity.
Throughout the centuries, as people moved and changed their surnames, some forms of the Graewe surname have become more localized, for example in the United States the Graewe is usually spelt as either ‘Grawe’ or ‘Groh’.
No matter how the Graewe surname is spelt, all of its variants, spellings and surnames of origin imply a noble heritage, coming from the Middle High German words for ‘count’ or ‘man’ and providing an interesting link to the past.
Famous people with the name Graewe
- Georg Graewe: German classical pianist and composer
- Ronald Graewe: Dutch football forward
- Kirsten Graewe: Dutch journalist and editor
- Adelheid Graewe: German operatic soprano and recipient of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Elena Graewe: German pianist and daughter of Georg Graewe
- Mathilda Graewe: German mezzo-soprano
- Kurt Graewe: German church musician
- Harry Graewe: German jazz saxophonist and composer
- Maarten Graewe: Dutch guitarist
- Jörg Graewe: German actor, director and theater pedagogue