Surname de Graaff - Meaning and Origin

de Graaff: What does the surname de Graaff mean?

The surname de Graaff is a patronymic Dutch surname derived from the given name Graaf, which is of Germanic origin. It derives from the Proto-Germanic word "gra-baz" meaning ‘count, nobleman’. It was adopted as a title by Germanic kings in the Middle Ages, and used to designate a powerful individual of a noble family with certain jurisdiction in his territory or demesne. By the 18th century it became more common to take on this title as a surname to denote a noble heritage.

The surname de Graaff is particularly associated with the Netherlands. In Europe, where a surname often reflects the place of origin, this name is often used to designate somebody from the northern provinces of the Netherlands. Today, this name is most commonly found in the southern provinces of the Netherlands, as well as Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel.

The de Graaff surname is still highly regarded in the Netherlands, as it reflects a connection to a noble heritage associated with the old Dutch families. Specifically, this surname is associated with members of the De Graaff family of Holland, a branch from the old Dutch nobility that originate from Zeeland in the Netherlands.

de Graaff: Where does the name de Graaff come from?

The last name de Graaff is common in areas in the Netherlands, especially in the province of South Holland. It is also common in Belgium, as well as in other countries with Dutch colonial history such as Indonesia, the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, and Germany.

In the Netherlands, the de Graaff family originated in the region around The Hague and Rijswijk, and in the south of the country as well. Many members of this family dispersed throughout the Netherlands over time, although the origins of the name are believed to date back to medieval times in the area.

In Belgium, particularly in the Flanders region, de Graaff is one of the most popular surnames. According to some estimates, de Graaff is currently the 32nd most common surname in Belgium and the 17th most common surname in the Flanders region.

In Indonesia, particularly in Java and Madura, de Graaff is also a popular name. It is believed that this part of Indonesia was the destination of many Dutch and German immigrants during the colonial period from the 17th to 19th centuries.

In the early 2000s, de Graaff was one of the ten most common surnames in the Netherlands, according to an analysis of the Central Bureau for Genealogy in Haarlem. The same analysis revealed that de Graaff is also one of the most common surnames in France, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

Variations of the surname de Graaff

The surname de Graaff is an aristocratic Dutch surname, originating in the 13th century and belonging to the noble family of de Graaff van Polsbroek. This surname has numerous variants and spellings, such as de Graaf, de Graeve, de Graeff, DeGraff, de Graf, De Graef, Graaf, Graf, Graeve, Graoff, Graef, Grave, Grav, and Graeff. The Dutch variant of the name, often found in the Netherlands itself, is usually written as "De Graeff".

In the Netherlands, variations of the surname are common due to the prevalence of Dutch Graaffs throughout the decades and centuries. In many cases, families with the same surname have developed different spellings over time. These include van der Graaff, van Graaff, Freed de Graff, and Van der Graaff.

The surname is also found in other countries in Europe, such as Belgium, Germany, England, Spain, and France. In Belgium, the surname is often written as Van der Graaff, Van Graaff, or Van de Graaff, while in France, it is often written as de Graff. In Germany, variations include Graf, Graef, Grãf, Graft, and Gräf.

In the U.S., the surname is often spelled as "de Graff", which is the same as the Dutch variant. It is also found spelled as Graff, Grave, Graffy, Graffius, Graffo, Graffman, Graffin, and Grafevan.

At times, the surname may also appear as De Graff, Degraff, or Degraaf. In areas where Dutch-speaking people have lived, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, the name is frequently seen with "van", "van den", or "van der" in front of it, such as Van der Graaff or Van Graaff.

Famous people with the name de Graaff

• Bob de Graaff. Bob is the current editor-in-chief of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
• Hetty de Graaff. Hetty is a former Dutch swimmer and was a European champion in the 500 m freestyle in 1961.
• Robert H.J. de Graaff. Robert is a Dutch financier and entrepreneur who co-founded NeSBIC, the first venture capital fund in the Netherlands.
• Piet de Graaff. Piet is an emeritus professor of neurobiology, doctor, researcher, former chairman of the neurology department at the University Medical Center in Utrecht and advisor to the Dutch Minister of Health and Dutch Public Prosecutions Service.
• Atzo Nicolaï. Atzo is a Dutch politician and former Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Born Atzo Nicoline Marie de Graaff, he is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.
• Anita de Graaff. Anita is a Dutch television presenter and author. She was the co-host of the quiz show Wie is de Mol? from the first season in 1999 until the twelfth season in 2011.
• Tijs de Graaff. Tijs is an award-winning Dutch animator and film director. Tijs' short film Rain won the Grand Prix at the Oostende Film Festival in 2009.
• Gilbert de Graaff. Gilbert is a Dutch mathematician who is best known for his work in the field of stochastic calculus and mathematical finance. He is a professor at Delft University of Technology.
• Frank de Graaff. Frank is a Dutch psychologist and professor at the Free University in Amsterdam. He is currently the chairman of the department of Educational Science.
• Anne de Graaff. Anne is a Dutch historian and professor of modern Dutch history at Utrecht University and Tilburg University.

Other surnames

de Graaf