Surname Grobbs - Meaning and Origin
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Grobbs: What does the surname Grobbs mean?
The last name Grobbs is of German and Dutch origin, but the exact meaning is uncertain. It is believed to have been derived from the German word “grob”, which translates to mean “coarse” or “rough”, or the Dutch word “grob”, which directly translates to “coarse”.
The surname Grobbs is likely to have referred to, or have been used to distinguish, people who were either physically or culturally rough or coarse in some way. Alternatively, the surname Grobbs may have referred to individuals who lived near a great, rough, or coarse body of water, such as a large lake or river. It could also have originally referred to someone who lived near a large body of coarse sand, produced by the wind or current of a lake or river.
Alternatively, the name Grobbs may have originated from a name that sounded similar to the German and Dutch words from which it is believed to have derived, sugar or garb, while others have suggested the origin could be a nickname, derived from an occupation such as a mining prospector.
Whatever its exact origin, the surname Grobbs has spread far and wide through Europe and is now seen in England, Germany, France, and many other countries. It is found in many spelling variations, including Grob, Grobbe, Grobbie, and Grobbs.
Order DNA origin analysisGrobbs: Where does the name Grobbs come from?
The last name Grobbs is most common in Germany and Poland, although it can be found throughout much of Europe. In Germany, Grobbs is primarily concentrated in the western and north-central parts of the country. In Poland, it is mainly found in the southwest, particularly in the Łódź Voivodeship. In census records from 1793, the highest numbers of Grobbs' can be found in big cities like Königsberg.
The name Grobbs is a variant of Graub, a common German and Polish surname. The earliest known records of the name date back to 1390, when a Johannes Graub owned land in Germany. The Grobbs variation may have originated as a variant spelling of Graub that developed in one particular family, gradually becoming adopted by other members of the family and thus adopted more generally.
Grobbs is also common in the United States, where the name arrived alongside German immigrants in the early to mid 20th century. Today, there are more Grobbs households in the US than any other country outside of Germany and Poland.
Overall, the Grobbs surname is most common in Germany and Poland, but has spread to many other countries due to immigration. Today, the name is still used by families all over the world, but is most dense in Germany and Poland.
Variations of the surname Grobbs
Grobbs is an uncommon surname of German, Dutch, and Ashkenazi Jewish origins, with variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
In Germany, Grobbs is mostly found in Bavaria and in some other parts of southern Germany. Alternate spellings of the name in German include Grobs, Grob, Grobe, Grobsch, Grobb, Grobbs, and Grubs. Surnames of similar German origin include Grober, Grobholz, Grobleben, Grobner, Grobecker, Grobkopf, and Gronbach.
In Dutch, the name is written as Grobos, Grobes, Grobesz, or Grobz. Surnames of the same origin include Grob, Grobbink, Grobet, Groben, Grobsmit, and Grobow.
In Ashkenazi Jewish culture, the name is often transcribed as Grobos or Grob. Surnames of similar Jewish origin are Grobman, Grobstein, Grobish, Groble, Grossbarth, and Gorvitz.
Grobbs is not a particularly common surname, but variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin signify that the Grobbs family tree could go quite far back in history.
Famous people with the name Grobbs
- Fabian Grobbs: German professional footballer
- Chris Grobbs: American electronic music producer and record label owner
- Dennis Grobbs: Argentine-American actor and film director
- Philip Grobbs: former American professional baseball pitcher
- Lothar Grobbs: German medical scientist and geneticist
- Johannes Grobbs: German classical composer
- Remo Grobbs: Swiss professional lightweight boxer
- Rebecca Grobbs: American photographer and visual artist
- Uwe Grobbs: German professional cyclist
- Holden Grobbs: American hurdler and sprinter