Surname Grävens - Meaning and Origin

Grävens: What does the surname Grävens mean?

The last name Grävens is of German origin. The name could have originated from the Middle High German word ‘grav’, which means ditch, ditch maker, or boundary line. As such, the surname Grävens likely served as an occupational identifier for those who worked in the market areas of Europe, such as ditch making, providing boundary lines, or farming.

In modern times, the last name Grävens might also signify those who are related to the aristocratic Graf (Count) family, who were nobles of the Holy Roman Empire. Similarly, Graf could be the origin of the last name, signifying descent from a noble family.

The use of the 'ä' as seen in 'Grävens' indicates that the surname may come from a village or singular family with that moniker. Such villages might be found near the border of Germany and Holland, for example. As such, the Grävens surname may be associated with the region of origin of the family.

Finally, the Grävens name could have also been linked to the personal faith of the family, as it is used as a part of the word Graven, meaning 'graved', or carved. This could indicate that the original family was Catholic, or possibly of Jewish faith.

Overall, the Grävens surname can mean a variety of things, depending on the country, region, and time period it originated from. The meaning of the name can vary from its German roots of boundary line, to a connected to the noble family, as well as a indicator of religious faith.

Grävens: Where does the name Grävens come from?

The last name Grävens is a German surnames that is today mostly found in Germany, but can also be seen in countries throughout Europe. It is believed to have originated in the area that is now the Netherlands, with the first known records of the name tracing back to the 13th century.

The German form of the name 'Grävens' is found mainly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. It is a fairly common last name in Germany, with 4,000 members of the Grävens family living in the country according to data from the German Federal Statistics Office.

In the Netherlands, the surname appears as 'Gravens', with 3,000 bearers of the name in the Netherlands today. In Luxembourg, the variant 'Graefs' is used, with over 2,500 people with this surname.

Grävens may also be found in other countries, including France, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland. In France, it may be spelled as 'Graveaux', while in Belgium it is 'Graeffs' or 'Graef'. Austria and Switzerland mostly use the name 'Graefe'.

Overall, the last name Grävens is quite common throughout Europe, with over 10,000 bearers of the name throughout the continent. It is mainly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, but can be seen in several other countries throughout Europe as well.

Variations of the surname Grävens

The surname Grävens is of Germanic origin and is thought to have originated in the region of Bavaria in Germany. It is an occupational name derived from the German term ‘graben’, which refers to a ditch or moat. The variants, spellings, and surnames of this origin include the following:

Gravens - This is the most common spelling, and is used mainly in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is also a popular surname in the English-speaking world. This spelling is derived from the German ‘graben’.

Graven - This spelling is more common in the English-speaking world, although its usage is not so widespread as the ‘Gravens’ variation. It is also derived from the German ‘graben’.

Graff - This spelling is used mainly in the United States and Canada, where it is quite a popular surname. It is derived from the German ‘gräfen’, which refers to a count or noble rank.

Graeven - This is a more rarely used spelling, and is most commonly seen in the Netherlands. It is derived from the German ‘graben’.

Graveen - This is an uncommon spelling but is seen in some countries, particularly the United States. It is derived from the German ‘graben’.

Grävers - This is a rare spelling, originating in Germany. It is derived from the German ‘gräven’, which refers to a ditch or canal.

Gravens - This is a variant of the ‘Gravens’ spelling. It is derived from the German ‘graben’.

Grave - This spelling is used mainly in the United States, and originates from the German ‘graben’.

Gräven - This spelling is found predominantly in Germany. It is derived from the German ‘graben’.

Gryvens - This spelling is seen in some countries in Europe, mainly the Netherlands and Germany. It is derived from the German ‘graben’.

The surnames Graff, Graveen, and Grävers are also related to the surname Grävens. These are all derived from German terms with slightly different meanings but related concepts.

Famous people with the name Grävens

• Saskia Grävens: German actress who best-known for her roles in the films Tatort: Never End and Aktenzeichen XY ... ungelöst: Der Unbeugsame.
• Egon Grävens: German former professional football player who played for several clubs in the Lower Saxony Football Association.
• Marie-Jeanne Grävens: Belgian custom tax officer who was among the first women to serve in the Belgian Civil Service.
• Marie-Antonie Grävens: French costume designer who worked on the film Antarctica in 1986.
• Friedrich Grävens: German mathematician known for solving the triangle problem.
• Michael Grävens: German lawyer who represented the German Democratic Republic in the European Court of Human Rights in 1977.
• Matthias Grävens: German physicist and professor at the University of TaRGian. He was awarded the Copernicus Prize in 1993.
• Barbara Grävens: German nurse who helped develop modern nursing practices in Germany.
• Karen Grävens: Swiss equestrian athlete who won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in 1980.
• Wolfgang Grävens: Austrian actor who starred in the 1990 film Das Boot.

Other surnames

GravenGräven