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

Groft, 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 Groft surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Groft in America

Groft is the 28746th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Groft surname appeared 828 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 Groft.

We can also compare 2010 data for Groft 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 Groft

The surname Groft has its origins in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas surrounding the city of Hamburg. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "grōf," which referred to a ditch or a small channel of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Groft surname can be found in the Hamburger Pfundzollbücher, a historical document that recorded customs duties paid in the city of Hamburg during the 15th century. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Groft residing in the town of Lübeck, a prominent Hanseatic city located in northern Germany. One notable member of this family was Johann Groft (1525 - 1597), a respected merchant and city councilor.

As the Groft family expanded, some members migrated to other parts of Europe. In the 17th century, a branch of the family settled in the Netherlands, where the name was sometimes spelled as "Grofft" or "Groften." One individual of note from this period was Willem Grofft (1630 - 1698), a renowned painter and engraver from Amsterdam.

The 18th century saw the Groft name spreading to other regions, including parts of what is now Poland and Russia. A prominent figure from this era was Karl von Groft (1745 - 1821), a Russian general who served under Catherine the Great and played a significant role in the Russo-Turkish Wars.

In the 19th century, members of the Groft family began to emigrate to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One notable individual was Friedrich Groft (1820 - 1892), a German-American farmer and businessman who settled in Pennsylvania and became a respected member of the local community.

Throughout its history, the Groft surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including merchants, artisans, military officers, and entrepreneurs. While the name may have evolved slightly in spelling over time, its German roots and connection to the northern regions of Europe remain evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Groft

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

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

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

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