Find out how popular the last name DeGraw is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named DeGraw.

DeGraw, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the DeGraw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeGraw in America

DeGraw is the 12752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeGraw surname appeared 2,420 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname DeGraw.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeGraw to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DeGraw

The surname DeGraw is of Dutch origin, tracing its roots back to the 17th century in the Netherlands. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a ditch or trench, from the Dutch word "gracht," which means "ditch" or "canal."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Dutch Reformed Church records of New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in the late 1600s. During this period, many Dutch settlers arrived in the New World, bringing their surnames with them.

As the name spread across the Dutch settlements in North America, it underwent various spelling variations, such as DeGrauw, DeGraaf, and DeGrave. These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the fluidity of language at the time.

The DeGraw surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jacobus DeGraw, a Dutch settler who arrived in New Amsterdam in the mid-17th century and became a prominent landowner and trader.

Another notable figure was Johannes DeGraw, born in 1740 in New York, who served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His bravery and leadership during the war earned him recognition and respect among his contemporaries.

In the 19th century, Isaac DeGraw, born in 1815 in New York, made a name for himself as a successful businessman and philanthropist. He was known for his contributions to various charitable causes and his support for educational institutions.

The DeGraw surname has also been linked to several place names in the United States, particularly in New York and New Jersey. For instance, DeGraw Street in Brooklyn, New York, and DeGraw Avenue in Toms River, New Jersey, are both named after individuals with the DeGraw surname who were prominent in their respective communities.

Another notable figure was Charles DeGraw, born in 1837 in New York, who was a prolific author and journalist. He wrote extensively on topics ranging from politics to literature and was widely respected for his insightful commentary and literary prowess.

While the DeGraw surname may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near ditches or canals, it has since become a distinguished name with a rich history and numerous notable bearers who have left their mark on various fields and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeGraw

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname DeGraw.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DeGraw was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DeGraw has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name DeGraw was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of DeGraw, please contact us.

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