Surname de Graeff - Meaning and Origin

de Graeff: What does the surname de Graeff mean?

The last name de Graeff is of Dutch origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval region of Frisia. According to one etymology, the name is derived from "Griff" – an Old German word meaning "Head of the Land" or "Chief Justice". This origin story might refer to possible personal or familial connections to local governance, and would indicate a long standing history of respect in the de Graeff family.

The family itself is said to have been started by the De Graeff brothers Cornelis and Andries, who lived in Amsterdam during the middle of the 17th century. During this period, the de Graeffs amassed great wealth and power due to trading activities and strategic marriages. This included trading fairly widely in Europe, becoming involved in both the Dutch West India Company and the Amsterdamse Beurs (stock exchange).

Over the following centuries, de Graeff family members continued to achieve greatness in the areas of business, politics, and science. Leaders within the de Graeff family served in the Dutch Senate (Staten-Generaal), established important printing houses, and acquired a large number of titles. The most famous member of the de Graeff family is arguably the famous Dutch Inventor Cornelis de Graaff – the man who invented the Blitzkrieg tank.

Today, the de Graeff family is still one of the largest and most proud families in the Netherlands. They continue to honor the family's legacy of being powerful influencers and respected leaders. Even centuries after the family's initial success, the success of the last name de Graeff can still be seen throughout the Netherlands.

de Graeff: Where does the name de Graeff come from?

The last name de Graeff is commonly found today in the Netherlands. The name was historically associated with a prominent Dutch noble family from the 17th century. While many descendants of the family have adopted other surnames, some still bear the name de Graeff to this day.

The de Graeff family were involved in many of the major events in Dutch history during the Republic of the United Provinces in the 17th to 18th centuries. Through their diplomatic and political involvement, they gained considerable influence in the court of the Dutch Stadtholder William III. They were also heavily involved in the Dutch East India Company and the West India Company, and numerous legal reforms in the Netherlands.

Today the de Graeff family name is still part of the Dutch nobility, but is not as prominent as it once was. The number of individuals who use it has gradually decreased over time. The last name is mainly associated with areas in the Netherlands such as Amsterdam and Utrecht. There are also families with the name in Belgium and Germany, mainly in the areas that were formerly part of the Dutch Republic. Thanks to Dutch emigration, there is a small number of de Graeffs in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname de Graeff

The surname de Graeff has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include de Graff, de Graf, Graff, Graf, and Graeff. It is also sometimes spelled DeGraff or DeGraf.

The de Graeff surname is of Norman origin. It is derived from the elements graf, meaning “count” or “county” and de, which is a French preposition meaning “of.” The signification of the name therefore is “of the county” or “of the count”.

It is commonly found in many countries around the world with various spellings. In the Netherlands, the surname is pronounced “de-credit”. In Germany, it is pronounced “dah-grahf”. In the United States, it is commonly pronounced “de-griff”. Other variants of spelling the surname in the U.S. are Degraff, Degriff, Degraf, Degraeft, and Grif.

Surnames that have derived from the de Graeff surname include DeGraf, DeGraff, DeGrafte, Graff, Graf, and Graffe. Other similar sounding surnames include Griff, Griffitts, and Graffius.

This surname is still found in many areas around the world today. Therefore, it is likely that a few bearing this surname today will have some ancestral connection to the de Graeff family.

Famous people with the name de Graeff

• Andries de Graeff: a Dutch politician and mayor of Amsterdam prominent in the mid-17th century
• Johan de Graeff: a Dutch statesman of the late 17th century and son of Andries de Graeff
• Cornelis de Graeff: a Dutch politician and mayor of Amsterdam, son of Andries de Graeff
• Willem de Graeff: the son of Cornelis de Graeff, he was a statesman and diplomat
• Jacob de Graeff: an 18th century Dutch Admiral and son of Andries de Graeff
• Arent de Graeff: a 17th century Dutch merchant and the first person to overthrow the relationship between the Staats-Generaal and the Orangists
• Kees de Graeff: a Dutch politician, and the last male heir of the de Graeff family
• Jacob Israel de Graeff: a Dutch banker, member of the de Graeff family and a prominent figure in Europe
• Pieter de Graeff: a 17th century Dutch landscape painter, a member of the De Graeff family
• Pieter Arentz de Graeff: a Dutch admiral and high official of the East India Company, a member of the de Graef family

Other surnames

de Graefde Graeve