Surname Greif - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Ancestral Roots and Understanding Lineage: My Journey with iGENEA and the Surname Greif
Embarking on a journey of heritage discovery with iGENEA's DNA Analysis teaching me the history and roots of my family name, Greif. Follow my exploratory voyage, revealing my ancestors' struggles, migration patterns, and enduring in different socio-cultural climates.
E. Greif
read moreGreif: What does the surname Greif mean?
The last name Greif is of German and Yiddish origin. In both languages, the word "greif" translates to "griffin" in English. The griffin is a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. In German, the name "Greif" is derived from the Middle High German word which comes from the Latin "griffus," meaning "hook" or "claw".
The griffin is a powerful and strong creature, which is often associated with protection, vigilance, and courage. Thus, the Greif surname can be interpreted as being a symbol of strength, courage, and protection. It is believed that the name may have originally come from a family crest, where the image of the griffin became a symbol of the family’s power and might.
The Greif surname is still popular today in Germany and is also quite common among Jewish families of German lineage. It is also sometimes seen as a variation of the German name Grief. In the United States, the surname is slightly less popular, but is still seen in various communities across the country.
All in all, the surname Greif symbolizes strength, courage, and protection and is a reminder of the families that have adopted this surname over the centuries. Although the image of the griffin may no longer have the same meaning it once did, the name still carries with it a feeling of strength and courage which can be passed down through a family's legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisGreif: Where does the name Greif come from?
The last name Greif is a surname of German and Jewish origins commonly found primarily in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
In modern times, the last name Greif is most commonly seen in Germany. According to the 2020 census, it is the 980th most common last name in Germany, with 9956 people having this family name. It is mostly situated in the south and east of the country, in regions like Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.
Likewise, Greif is also a popular surname in Austria, where it is ranked 246th in terms of popularity. It is scattered across different regions in Austria, although it is most often found in Styria, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria.
As for Poland, the name Greif is the 1139th most common surname in the country according to Poland’s 2020 census.
In Hungary, having the last name Greif is quite rare, as it does not even appear in the top 5000 surnames. However, due to the country’s Jewish roots, it is not entirely unheard of.
Due to its German-Jewish roots, you may be able to find occurrences of the last name Greif in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, it is not nearly as commonplace as it is in countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Greif
Greif is an ancient Germanic surname which can be derived from the Middle High German ‘greif’ meaning ‘grip’ or ‘grasp’. It is a popular surname among Jews as it originates from Hebrew or Yiddish roots.
The variants of Greif include: Greife, Grief, Greep, Greef, Graif, Greep, Griefe, Griep, Greif, Greifen, Griepen, Greiff, Greiffen, Greifer, Griepers, Griper, Grippers, Greifs, Greifer, Greifer, Griefer, Griever, Grievers, Grievor, Grievors, Greifs, Greifer, Greifers, Griefers and Greiffer.
The main spelling of Greif is popular in most English speaking countries. Some spelling variations which are common among German-Speaking countries include: Greif, Graif, Greife, Griep, Griepen, Grief, Griefe, Griepers, Griper, Grippers, Greifs, Greifer, Greifer, Griefer, Griever, Grievers, Grievor, Grievors, Greifs, Greifer, Greifers, Griefers, Greiffer, Greiffen, Greifer, Greiff, and Greiffen.
The surnames of the same origin for Greif include: Greyf, Graf, Graef, Greb, Grepp, Greep, Greef, Gray, Grey, Grief, Griff, Gryphon, and Griffen.
In conclusion, Greif is a popular surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Though all the forms of the surname are derived from the ancient Germanic root, Greif, the different spellings are popular according to the English speaking country.
Famous people with the name Greif
- Danny Greif: a Brazilian pop singer known for his song “Tudo Que Você Precisa”.
- Rebecca Greif: an American software engineer and designer, famous for her work on technology and social media platforms.
- Alan Greif: an American screenwriter who won an Academy Award for his screenplay adapted from the novel “The Dark Half.”
- William Greif: an American actor best known for his roles on television shows such as “Designing Women” and “Dawson’s Creek.”
- Stephen Greif: an English actor and voice actor, best known as the voice of Orin Zebub in the famed “Hellraiser” film franchise.
- Hugh Greif: an American record producer and composer who has worked with artists such as Prince, David Bowie, and U2.
- Carl Greif: a German biologist and explorer, renowned for his work in biomedical physiology and his time as an advisor to Adolf Hitler during World War II.
- Emma Greif: a German actress and singer, best known for her roles on television shows such as “Dark Angel” and “Verbotene Liebe.”
- John Greif III: an American poet and fiction author whose works include the critically acclaimed “The Long Road Home” and “The Prophecy of Thomas the Rhymer.”
- Jonathon Greif: an American art photographer and photojournalist who is renowned for capturing riveting images of his travels throughout Latin America, Africa, and the United States.