Surname Graue - Meaning and Origin
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Graue: What does the surname Graue mean?
The surname Graue is of Germanic origin and derived from the Middle High German word "grau", meaning grey. It was most likely originally a nickname for someone with grey hair or grey eyes, or someone who dressed in grey clothing. The name can also be interpreted as a reference to a horse or other animal that was grey in color.
The prevalence of the Graue surname is highest in Germany and Austria, though there are families bearing this surname in other European countries such as Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
This surname may also be associated with some Jewish families who adopted the name after they were persecuted during the Middle Ages across Europe. There are some records noting that Graue was used as a pseudonym used to conceal one's Jewish faith.
Graue may also be a locational surname, derived from a village of the same name located in the Rhineland region. Finally, some families with the Graue surname may simply have adopted the name when it sounded appealing to them.
Regardless of the origin, Graue is a unique and distinguished surname. The families who bear this name share a sense of unity and connection that can be traced back centuries, to the distant past of European history.
Order DNA origin analysisGraue: Where does the name Graue come from?
The surname Graue is mainly found in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. In Germany, it is one of the most common surnames and is particularly popular in the northern regions of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein. It is also widespread throughout Austria with the highest density in Vienna and the state of Lower Austria, as well as in Eastern Europe, especially in Bulgaria and Hungary. Outside of Europe, the name is found in the United States of America, where is has become increasingly popular in the last decades. In the United States, it is more common in the East and Midwestern states, such as Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It can also be found in some parts of Canada, mainly in its eastern provinces like Ontario and New Brunswick. The surname is also recorded in Australia and South America, in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Finally, it is also found in some parts of Asia, including Japan.
Variations of the surname Graue
The surname Graue is a German and English family name that has a variety of different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. In German, the name can be found spelled as Graue, Grau, Grawe, Graef, Gray, Graf, Greu, Graff, or Graeve. In English, the name can be found spelled as Graye, Grav, Grave, Greaves, Greaves, or Graew. In addition, surnames of the same origin include Graa, Graah, and Graahm.
Graue is a topographic surname derived from the Middle High German word “grâ”, meaning “graze” and refers to one who grazed cattle on the common meadow. The German Grau or Grawe surname is thought to have originated from personal names beginning with "Grafen" or "Graffen", meaning "one from the noble class".
The English adapted the surname from the Old French “gray” meaning ‘grey’ and the French adjective “grave” meaning ‘reserved’ or ‘dignified’. This likely referred to a person of a reserved or dignified nature.
As with many surnames, the spelling of Graue and the surnames of the same origin can vary wildly from region to region, and even from time to time depending on the prevailing language of a particular area.
Famous people with the name Graue
- Jim Graue: American cross country skiing athlete
- Joerg Graue: German race car driver 3.Todd Graue: American television actor 4.Franz Graue: German painter
- Heinz Graue: German actor
- Helga Graue: German actress
- Willy Graue: German film director 8.Max Graue: German politician and journalist 9.Josephine Graue: American professional wrestler 10.Sylvia Graue: German documentary filmmaker 11.John Graue: German biathlete 12.Jan Graue: German footballer 13.Mark Graue: German musician 14.Hans-Joachim Graue: German actor 15.Theo Graue: German football manager 16.Matthias Graue: German anthropologist 17.Arndt Graue: German politician 18.Heinrich Graue: German ornamental architect 19.Sebastian Graue: German film producer 20.Odilo Graue: German cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church