Surname Grohe - Meaning and Origin
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Grohe: What does the surname Grohe mean?
The last name Grohe is an occupational surname of German origin derived from the word "groh" meaning "farmer." It is likely that Grohe was used to identify individuals in a particular region or village who took up farming as their primary occupation.
The Grohe family first resided in the north German region of Holstein during the early part of the 16th century. In Holstein, Grohe was among the most popular surname. Later, families with this last name moved southward through Germany, spreading the name to regions such as Bavaria, Baden, and Munich.
During the 17th century, many emigrated to the United States in search of a better life and a new beginning. Today, Grohe is a tremendously varied surname found in many countries, from Germany to America, Brazil to Israel.
Overall, Grohe is believed to be an ancient surname of Germanic origin and is likely to have specific ties to family and culture. Grohe was most commonly used as an occupational surname for persons who farmed the lands for their living. It is also likely that family groups using this surname shared a common origin in various places throughout the German-speaking world.
Order DNA origin analysisGrohe: Where does the name Grohe come from?
The last name Grohe is a German surname, commonly found in the German-speaking regions of Europe. In Germany, the last name Grohe is especially common in regions near the Rhine river, particularly in the region around Wiesbaden. In 2000, the most populous city in the world with the last name Grohe was Oberwesel, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is estimated that about 1,594 people with the last name Grohe live there.
Outside of Germany, Grohe is also common in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and northern France. According to one analysis, it is the 1,872nd most common surname in Belgium, with 1,157 people having the name. The last name is also somewhat present in the United States, where, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, about 1,680 individuals had the Grohe surname.
In total, the last name Grohe is fairly widespread in Europe and the United States, albeit with its highest concentration found in Germany. One amazing thing about this name is that some Grohes have been living in the Wiesbaden area of Germany for centuries. For example, the earliest known mention of the Grohe surname dates back to 1553 in Oberwesel. This makes Grohe a fairly old surname, and serves as an example of how surnames can provide a connection to one’s past and origins.
Variations of the surname Grohe
The surname Grohe can take on several different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of the surname Grohe are Grahe, Grehe, Graeh, Graehe, Greh, Grehe, and Grae. These variants are derived from either the German noun Grohe or the Old High German noun Grôhe, meaning a “ditch” or “marsh.” In modern German, a Grohe is a small stream or river.
Groehe, Groeh, and Groehle are other potential variants of the name stemming from Middle High German, where the root word Gra or Graë, meaning an “embankment” or “dike,” was followed by hals, or “neck.” This could refer to a waterway built along an embankment, which would make sense for a surname meaning “ditch” or “marsh.”
Spelling variants of the surname can include Groue, Graehen, Grahen, Grahenle, Grahe, Grahenel, Groueh, and Grahenl.
A few potential surnames of the same origin as Grohe include Groehner, Groehnel, Grahn, Grehn, Grehnert, Grehnle, Grehnel, Grehler, Grehler,le, Grehnele, Grehele, and Groenloh. These surnames are derived from the same Middle High German root words as the Grohe surname itself.
In conclusion, the surname Grohe, including its various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, can be traced back to German nouns referring to a “ditch” or “marsh,” while also having potential roots in Middle High German words meaning an “embankment” or “dike.”
Famous people with the name Grohe
- Phyllis Grohé: French actress, co-starred in several films by director Alain Resnais and appeared in Jean Cocteau's Testament d'Orphée.
- Jocelyne Grohe: French costume designer, noted for her work on the films 1000 Rupees by Revathi and Yatra by Mani Ratnam.
- Jean-Charles Grohe: French director, actor and writer, best known for his play Un grand petit chef d’orchestre.
- Erik Grohe: German politician and Member of the European Parliament from Germany.
- Joseph Grohe: Swiss painter, active in 18th–19th century Geneva and Lucerne.
- Norbert Grohe: German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union who served as Minister of Health in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet from 2014 to 2018.
- Ludwig Grohe: founder of German luxury sanitary fittings maker and plumbing supplier, the Grohe Group.
- Peter Grohe: German economist, noted for his work in industrial organization.
- Alfred Grohe, Sr.: German industrialist, notable for being the founder and owner of the eponymous Grohe Group which he established in 1936.
- Alfred Grohe Jr.: CEO of Grohe Group between 1991 and 2017 as well as the current Chairman of the Group’s Supervisory Board.