Surname Graven - Meaning and Origin

Graven: What does the surname Graven mean?

The last name Graven is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from a word meaning “grave”, and it could have been a nickname for someone who lived near a cemetery or made their living digging graves. Alternatively, it could also have been a habitational name for someone living near a prominent grave or sepulchre. In that case, the name might have been given to the inhabitants of a particular place of significance.

The name is believed to have originated in the Germanic region during the Middle Ages and was more commonly found in Germany and the Low Countries. Graven also spread to England as a result of the Norman Conquest. Variations of the name include Graff, Graffen and Gravenhorst.

The presence of the name throughout history has been documented in church books, war memorials and various other records. For example, it appears on a monument of World War I veterans in Kupferberg, Germany, as well as in the records of the Dutch Reformed Church in Manhattan.

Overall, the last name Graven is associated with the Germanic region and carries a fascinating and historically significant meaning, evoking an image of a person connected to graves.

Graven: Where does the name Graven come from?

The last name Graven is most commonly found in France and Belgium today. It typically originates from Dutch and German surnames and is particularly frequent in the Netherlands. Within the United States, the name is most prevalent in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas.

In the Netherlands, the surname is originallly derived from ‘grave’ or ‘gracht’, which is a word for ‘ditch’ or ‘moat’ (used for drainage or protection). It was often given to those who built these fortifications.

In France, the surname originates from the Latin ‘gravare’ - to grave or engrave. This was typically used to describe a person who engraved or carved stone or wood as a tradesman.

In Belgium, ‘Graven’ tends to be the Dutch variant of the name, although the French version also exists. The top provinces where the name is found is West-Vlaanderen, Antwerpen, and Limburg.

Overall, the surname Graven is fairly common today in French-speaking countries. There are various spellings of the name in different countries, including Greves, Grau, and Gravier. It is also sometimes recorded as Graf or Graeff in Germany and Switzerland.

Variations of the surname Graven

Graven is a relatively modern surname, and is often spelled in various ways such as Graven, Graeven, Gravens, Graves, Grave, Gravin, Graveney, Gravins, Gravenor, Greven, Gravin, Grevens, Grevins, Gravon, and Grevin.

The surname Graven has a few distinct origins. One such is Dutch, where it was a habitational name, indicating someone who was from a town called Graven or Groen.

In Swedish, the Graven surname could have derived its name from a place called Gravby in the province of Uppland.

In England, the Graven surname is believed to have come from the Middle English word, graven, which means "ditch or furrow." This is usually associated with a geographical feature like a stream or an area of land.

In German, Graven is sometimes spelled as Greven, and is believed to originate from a location on the border between Germany and Luxembourg. The name could have been derived from a place named Grafenburg, Grafe or Grafenkrone located in that area.

The surname Graven could also have an origin in French, coming from the word grave, which means "hollow". This could have been a reference to a geographic feature such as a gully or possibly a cemetery.

Finally, the Graven surname could have come from the Gaelic-Celtic word greim, which means "cliff".

Overall, there are many different origins and spellings of the surname Graven, all of which evolved into the family names found today.

Famous people with the name Graven

• Johan Graven, a Danish professional cyclist
• Pål Graven, a Norwegian actor
• Finland Graven, a Canadian Inuktitut language expert
• Erika Graven, an American actress
• Tito Graven, a Swedish professional musician
• Samuel Graven, a Kenyan entrepreneur
• Ragnar Graven, a Norwegian historian
• Corinne Graven, a British model
• Christoffer Graven, a Danish artist
• Simon Graven, an American photographer

Other surnames

GraveGräveGraveleyGravelineGravelleyGravelyGrävensGraverGraves