Surname Gräfe - Meaning and Origin

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Y. Gräfe

Gräfe: What does the surname Gräfe mean?

The last name Gräfe is of German origin and is thought to have come from the Middle High German word 'grâve', meaning bailiff or village mayor. It may have been a name used to refer to someone who was a bailiff or a person of authority in a town or a rural village.

Today Gräfe is a pretty common last name in Germany, often found in areas such as Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin.

In the past, the meanings of German last names were often determined by the professions and roles people held in their society. It is quite possible that the origin of Gräfe last name may have symbolized the power and authority the family held in the community or a reflection of their social status.

Gräfe today is still a relatively well-known last name associated with Germany and is unique in its spelling. Those bearing this name may feel a connection to their ancestral homeland and the deep cultural history that exists there.

Gräfe: Where does the name Gräfe come from?

The last name Gräfe is most commonly found in Germany, specifically in the northern, central, and eastern parts of the country. The name meaning originates from the Middle High German language, and translates to “crested” or “scratch”.

This name originated in the Middle Ages and was most often used to refer to someone with physical signs of injuries or blemishes. It could also refer to someone who was particularly courageous or strong in battle, or a leader who was respected in their community.

Today, the Gräfe surname is most common in the German states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia. According to the Federal Statistical Office in Germany, this name is estimated to be held by over 3,500 people living in the country.

Further, the last name is believed to be particularly popular in the city of Bad Salzungen, which is located in the Thuringia state.

The name Gräfe is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and in the United States. In the U.S., it can be found in large German communities in states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Many immigrants who came from countries like the United States and Germany also adopted the Gräfe surname after settling in other countries such as Canada, Brazil, and South Africa.

It is also believed that this name is evolving as generations pass, and may be adapted to other forms such as Graff, Graf, Graaff, and Graeve.

Variations of the surname Gräfe

The surname Gräfe can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

One variant of Gräfe is Graf. This is a commonly found spelling for a surname in German-speaking countries and is sometimes used as an abbreviated form of Gräfe.

Other variants of Gräfe are Grefe, Greif, Graef, Graeff, Grief, Griefe, Graff, Graeve, Griep, Grif, and Greifen. All of these spellings are found in records and documents in German-speaking countries.

Surnames derived from the Gräfe spelling can also include Greifenstein, Grafenstein, Greifenberger, Grafenburg and Greiffenstein.

Finally, Gräfe is also an old German word meaning "limit". This can be a origin of the name for families with the surname Gräfe, as this name may have referred to the “limit” of property that the family had in a certain area.

In total, there is a large number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Gräfe surname. While some of them may have a different meaning, the names are all related in one way or another to the original Gräfe spelling.

Famous people with the name Gräfe

• Jürgen Gräfe: German actor best known for his starring role in the television series “Der Alte”.
• Rudolf Gräfe: German Volk movement leader and leader of the German social credit movement.
• Hans Gräfe: German film producer and director, best known for his work on the TV series Drop the Dead Donkey.
• Steffen Gräfe: German footballer, plays for Darmstadt 98.
• Felix Gräfe: Danish swimmer.
• Rami Gräfe: German entrepreneur and founder of the successful overnight delivery company Delivery Hero.
• Gerda Gräfe: German operatic soprano and actress.
• Johann Friedrich Gräfe: German physiologist who developed the Gräfe sign for dacrystinus. 9.Stefan Gräfe: German electronic music composer/producer, remixer and DJ.
• Michael Gräfe: German journalist who focuses on football and finance.

Other surnames

GrafenGräfen