Surname Graule - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Graule: What does the surname Graule mean?
The last name Graule is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Graul’. The root of this word is most likely from the Middle Low German ‘Grahl’ meaning creek, which likely was a geographical point of reference in Medieval Germany. The name may have been adopted as a result of a prominent geographical feature in the area where the family first originated. Alternatively, the name could be attributed to a person’s general behavior or attitude, with the term meaning gruff or stern .
Surnames derived from the Middle High German language were most commonly found in the regions of contemporary Germany, Denmark, and Austria during the mid-17th century. The first appearance in records of the name Graule appears in the region which is now known as Rheinland-Pfalz in 1645, a region of Germany along the Rhine river.
Most likely the families with the Graule last name originated from this area and eventually migrated to surrounding areas of Prussia, Denmark, and Austria.
Currently, in Germany the last name Graule is relatively rare but can still be found throughout regions of the country regardless of its long history. Many Graule families have since moved to North America and can now be found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Order DNA origin analysisGraule: Where does the name Graule come from?
The last name Graule is most commonly associated with Germany and its surrounding countries today. It originated in southwestern Germany and can trace its roots back to the early Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Middle High German word “gröulen” meaning “to bark” and could originally have been used to describe the barking of dogs used for hunting or the growling of a wild animal.
The Graule surname is found in the greater Bavarian and Franconian region, with significant populations in the cities of Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. It is also present in the Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Saxony, and some parts of Austria.
In the United States, Graule is most prevalent in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Immigration records indicate that the name began to appear in the United States in the early 19th century with Germans arriving from Bavaria, primarily during the years of the revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
Despite its Germanic origins, over time, the Graule name has spread all over the world and is now present in countries including Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Tanzania.
Variations of the surname Graule
The surname Graule originates from the German language and is found primarily in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is spelled as Graule or Graul and is also sometimes recorded as Graulich, Graulmann, Graulinger, Graulhagen, Graulesen, Graulmayer, Graullich, Graulle and Graulke.
The main spelling, Graule, is a patronymic name derived from the German personal name Grael or Grehl, with '-le' being an affectionate suffix added to the personal name. Records of Graule first appear in the Middle Ages, with Conrad Grael or Grahle being recorded in 1275.
The Graulesen spelling is found predominantly in Germany and means 'Son of Graule', whilst Graulmayer is derived from a combination of the personal name Graul and the occupational name 'Mai' meaning 'May' and being derived from the Anglo-Saxon word maje, indicating either a dove's breeder, or an official responsible for assigning farmland to tenants. Individuals with the Graulle or Graulke surnames are of a variant of the Graule name, and are likely to be descendants of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Graule
- Joseph Graule: Queensland, Australia born-and-bred artist who is renowned for his bold, large-scale oil paintings.
- Michael Graule: American cabaret artist, author, and playwright.
- Barry Graule: Wild West-living author and artist, writer of books such as Watchful in the West: A Cowboy’s Journey Through Real and Reconstructed History.
- Werner Graule: German engineer, inventor and pioneer of automotive propulsion technology.
- Wolfgang Graule: German musician, vocalist and former choir director who founded the Vox Humana choir in 1985.
- Stefan Graule: Austrian ice hockey player who had the distinction of being selected as the first Austrian to play for a National Hockey League (NHL) team.
- Hennig Graule: Swiss stunt performer and professional skier who has appeared in numerous ski and travel films and broke the world record in 1980 for the longest ski jump.
- Kristin Graule: American competitive equestrian, best known for her work with horses at the prestigious Palo Alto Riding Academy in California.
- Ralf Graule: German Formula One motoring enthusiast who raced for team Sauber in the early 2000s.
- Sharlene Graule: American actress best known for her roles in the television series Dallas and Knots Landing.