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

Graef, 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 Graef surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Graef in America

Graef is the 20512th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Graef surname appeared 1,293 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Graef.

We can also compare 2010 data for Graef 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 Graef

The surname GRAEF originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded appearances dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "gravio," meaning "count" or "judge," suggesting that the name's bearers may have held positions of authority or nobility in medieval times.

One of the earliest documented references to the name GRAEF can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical records from the former Principality of Anhalt, dated around 1250. This manuscript mentions individuals with the surname, indicating their presence in the region during that era.

In the 14th century, the GRAEF name appeared in various tax records and land registers across German territories, particularly in areas like Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution and socioeconomic status of the family during that time period.

Notably, the GRAEF surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Johann Friedrich Christoph Graef (1711-1795), a German philosopher and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. His works on ethics and moral philosophy were influential during the Enlightenment era.

Another prominent bearer of the GRAEF name was Friedrich August Graef (1768-1833), a German jurist and legal scholar who played a significant role in the codification of Prussian civil law in the early 19th century. His contributions to the development of legal systems and jurisprudence were widely recognized.

In the realm of art, the GRAEF surname is associated with Johann Andreas Graef (1637-1701), a German painter and engraver known for his exquisite portraits and allegorical works. His artworks can be found in various museums and collections across Europe.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the achievements of Karl-Heinz Graef (1923-2005), a German entrepreneur and industrialist who founded the renowned electronics company Graef GmbH. His innovative products and business acumen helped establish the GRAEF brand as a household name in the consumer goods industry.

The surname GRAEF has also been historically linked to several place names and locations within Germany. For instance, the town of Grafenau in Bavaria was originally known as "Grevenaue" in the 12th century, derived from a similar root as the surname, suggesting a possible connection or influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Graef

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

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 Graef 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 Graef 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 Graef was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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