Surname Greef - Meaning and Origin
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Greef: What does the surname Greef mean?
The last name Greef is a variation of the German surname Greif, which dates back as far as the 16th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word ‘greif’, meaning ‘griffin’ or ‘ravenous eagle’. The griffin is an ancient mythological creature that is typically represented as a combination of a lion and an eagle with a huge beak and talons. In the heraldic tradition, a griffin symbolizes strength and valor and may represent a person of noble descent or a warrior.
The name Greef is also found as an alternative spelling of the English last name Greaves, which is derived from the Old English word ‘greve’, meaning ‘guard’. This could indicate that the first Greefs were guardians of some kind, likely of a royal family or an estate.
More recently, the Greef surname is common in Germany and Holland. It is thought to have spread to other parts of Europe and the United States with early German immigrants, though it is also present in some other parts of the world.
In conclusion, the origin of the last name Greef is rooted in two distinct sources: The German surname Greif, meaning ‘griffin’ or ‘ravenous eagle’, and the English name Greaves, derived from the Old English word for ‘guard’. The name has a long history spanning many centuries and has spread around the world through immigration in recent years.
Order DNA origin analysisGreef: Where does the name Greef come from?
The last name Greef is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have originated in medieval Germany as either a form of Grif or Graf, both of which referred to a prestigious title in the Middle Ages.
In Germany, the surname Greef is most strongly associated with the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin and Lower Saxony. It is the 48th most common surname in Germany, with an estimated 0.03% of the population bearing the name.
In the Netherlands, the Greef surname is most commonly found in the province of Zeeland. It is a comparatively rare surname, however, with an estimated 0.0029% of the population having the name.
The Greef surname can also be found in New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the United States, Australia, France and the United Kingdom. Although it is much less common in these countries, the name Greef is still carried by a few families.
Variations of the surname Greef
Greef is an uncommon Dutch and Germanic surname that draws its roots from the Old Germanic "Graf", meaning "count" (otherwise known as an earl). The variants of Greef often include Greif, Graf, Greiff, and Graff.
It's most common spelling is "Greef", but the Ipswich Family History Society lists 26 different spellings of the name. These include Greif, Greife, Greiff, Greifen, Greiffen, Greffen, Gruff, Gruffen, Grief, Grieve, Greffe, Graf, Graeff, Graffen, Graffenbauer, Graffenberg, Graffensperger, Gravius, Grove, Grofe, Groff, Groffen, Graewe, Grauw, Grau, and Groev.
The surname is predominantly found in The Netherlands, Germany, and Austria (especially in the Upper Rhine region). It is also found in other countries where Dutch and German immigrants to settled in (including Belgium, Switzerland, United States, Canada, etc.).
In The Netherlands and Germany, Greef is usually spelled Graf. However, local dialects often dictate the spelling. For example, in Flanders, Belgium, the locals would often spell the name as "Greif", but the original Dutch name would be "Greef".
The main surnames associated with the generic concept of "Greef" and its variants are "Graff" (Germany), "Greif" (Austria), and in França's version of the name "Graf", as well as "Greef" (Netherlands).
Some may also choose to spell the name as the variant "Groef" or even "Gref", but these spellings are also very uncommon. When spelling this name, it is important to realize that despite the numerous spellings, all of them are intrinsically related to the original Germanic "Graf" meaning "Count" or "Earl".
Famous people with the name Greef
- Ian Greef: British actor
- Thomas Greef: German actor
- Jorgen Greef: Danish actor
- Jaden Greef: British musician
- Carl Greef: Swedish actor
- Beatrice Greef: Dutch musician
- Walter Greef: German composer
- Sjors Greef: Dutch actor
- Rutger Greef: Dutch singer
- Daniël Greef: Dutch model
- Christof Greef: Dutch actor
- Therese Greef: Belgian singer
- David Greef: French actor
- Jan Greef: Dutch actor
- Marlou Greef: Dutch actress
- Löise Greef: Swiss actress
- Dow Greef: British actor
- Toni Greef: American actor
- Rob Greef: Dutch photographer
- Monica Greef: Dutch actress