Surname Hochgräfe - Meaning and Origin

Hochgräfe: What does the surname Hochgräfe mean?

The last name Hochgräfe is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word "grāve”, which had its origins in the word “graven” meaning nobility or an official in great authority.

A Hochgräfe was an official of a feudal estate, such as a Steuergraf (steward, who was responsible for accounting and collecting duties on behalf of the lord of the manor), a Schultheiss (judicial official), or an Amtmann (administrative officer). They administered justice, acted as liaison between the lord and his tenants, and collected taxes or other funds.

In some parts of Germany, in the first half of the 19th century, these officials were still called Hochgräfinnen and Hochgräfe, to distinguish them from lower-ranking officials. As the term gradually fell out of use and the administrative offices were abolished, the noble title of Hochgräfe was rendered obsolete.

The Hochgräfe families were considered to be among the higher nobility of the German-speaking world. In many cases, they had a kind of heraldic device or coat of arms associated with their name. This device signified the high social standing, the nobility, and the power the family had in the German lands.

Nowadays, the surname Hochgräfe is still present in German-speaking areas and as far away as the United States, as many descendants of noble families immigrated during the 19th and early 20th centuries. While the title may no longer exist, the name Hochgräfe is still a symbol of strength, nobility, and respect.

Hochgräfe: Where does the name Hochgräfe come from?

The last name Hochgräfe is most commonly found in Germany, where it is especially concentrated in Lower Saxony and the Rhineland-Palatinate. Other locations with notable numbers of people with this name include the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In German, the name literally translates to "High Count" or "High Judge". Historians link the title to the medieval practice of appointing a high authority, typically a bishop or an abbot, to arbitrate in disputes or to judge criminal cases and settle debate.

Today, the Hochgräfe name is still used in many areas, however it is not particularly common. Those with the name often trace their lineage back to distinguished figures from Germanic mythology such as Hildigrim, Hildigrim I, and Hildigrim II. Other variations on the name are Hochgraefe or Hochgraf.

In addition to its geographical prevalence, the name has connections to many occupations. It is most often associated with the legal field, due to its historical association with rulers and judges, but is also frequently linked to banking, medicine, and engineering.

Variations of the surname Hochgräfe

The surname Hochgräfe is a German name that has many alternative spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. These include Hochgraefe, Hochgrefe, Hochgreave, Hochgraf, Hockegrafe, Hockgrafe, Hochgraff, Hochgrafft and Hochgrief.

The surname originates from the German word hochgrafe, which was a medieval term for a high-ranking aristocratic official. It is believed that the name could have been applied to those who held the positions of a local or regional administrator.

The surname is derived from the Middle High German words hoch (meaning “high”) and graf (meaning “count”). It can also be written as two separate words or hyphenated e.g. Hoch-Graef, Hoch Graef, and Hoch-Graffe.

Variants of the name include Höchgefreiter, Höchgreff, Höchgräfe, Höchgrefe, Huchgrewe, Hogefeer, Högefeer, Hogefer, Hoggefeer, and Hoggefer. It is possible that the name could have been passed down through different branches of the family over the generations, with each branch adopting a different spelling or variant of the name.

The surnames of the same origin include Hoechgraf, Hoechgraef, Hoffgraf, Hoffgraft, Hoechgrief and Hoechgreif. These could have arisen from slight pronunciation or scribal differences, or through changes in spelling over time.

In general, all of these surnames are derived from the same root, and similarly refer to a high-ranking official in a medieval court or the field.

Famous people with the name Hochgräfe

• Rieke Hochgräfe: Rieke Hochgräfe is a German actress who is known for her appearances in films such as Die Mutter, Sturmfrei, and Aufregung.
• Wigbert Hochgräfe: Wigbert Hochgräfe is a German theologian, poet and painter who has written and published a range of books such as Der Gottessohn.
• Bernhard Hochgräfe: Bernhard Hochgräfe is a German historian and Emeritus professor of Ancient History at the University of Tübingen.
• Robby Hochgräfe: Robby Hochgräfe is a former professional football midfielder from Germany who played for clubs such as Schalke 04 and Isernhagen.
• Michael Hochgräfe: Michael Hochgräfe is a German economist and professor at the University of Tübingen where he is the chair of International Economics.
• Axel Hochgräfe: Axel Hochgräfe is a German Pianist and professor at the Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität in Linz, Austria.
• Julia Hochgräfe: Julia Hochgräfe is a German actress known for her appearances in films such as What Smiles Hide and Eine Nacht in Berlin.
• Wilhelm Hochgräfe: Wilhelm Hochgräfe was a German journalist and the editor of several magazines.
• Max Hochgräfe: Max Hochgräfe was a German botanist and arachnologist who specialized in the study of spiders and scorpions.
• Martin Hochgräfe: Martin Hochgräfe is a German photographer and author who has published works such as Die Schöne Welt der Kreaturen and Schöpfung im Blick.

Other surnames

Hochgräf