Surname Greeven - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Greeven: What does the surname Greeven mean?
The last name Greeven is an ancient Dutch and German surname. It is thought to have developed from the Middle Dutch "greve", meaning steward, which was used to denote someone who owned or was in charge of an estate. Although more common in the Netherlands and Germany, there are also some individuals in the US who bear this surname.
Early records of the name in Europe date back to the 12th century, when a certain Willeldua Greve was mentioned in the records of the Abbey Church of Antwerp. Later, a Conrad Greve was mentioned in a tax list in Rennerode, Germany in 1402. In the time of the Dutch Republic, prominent families using the name became mayors of prominent Dutch and German cities - such as 1600s merchant Ferdiander Greeven, who acted as mayor of Zierikzee, Netherlands.
The Greeven family is historically associated with driving change and progress in their urban environments. While we can only speculate about its origins, it appears to be tied to a desire for furthering the development of the area in the Netherlands and Germany, as indicated by some holders of the name becoming mayors in cities. In turn, it stands for progress, ambition, and leadership.
Order DNA origin analysisGreeven: Where does the name Greeven come from?
The surname Greeven is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, particularly the eastern regions of Europe. The Netherlands is the ancestral home of the Greeven family, and the name likely originated in the southern provinces of Limburg, Zuid-Holland, and Noord-Brabant.
The Dutch name Greeven is believed to be derived from the Dutch word 'grof' which means 'coarse or rough'. It is possible that the name was used to describe someone who worked with their hands, such as a craftsman or farmer.
Variations of the name Greeven can be found in other countries, including Germany, Belgium, and France. It is not as common in the United States, but there are some individuals with the surname Greeven living in America today.
Although the Greeven surname is rare outside of the Netherlands, it is still used among Dutch families and is a reminder of the heritage of the Netherlands. It is most likely to be found in the Netherlands and other regions of Europe, and is rarely found anywhere else.
Variations of the surname Greeven
The surname Greeven is thought to have its roots in Holland and sometimes variants of the name are spelled Grieven, Greven, Grevin, Greefin or Grevyn.
Greeven is an uncommon name in many countries with the most frequent occurrences being in Holland, the United States, South Africa and Germany. In the United States, spellings such as Greef, Greeve, Grieve and Grev are in use, as well as Grevin in South Africa which has its roots in French.
Greeven is derived from the Dutch word 'Graf', meaning 'count' in English. It was likely used as a nickname for someone who had once owned a noble estate, or perhaps a nobleman himself. So in the old days, Greeven could have been a surname referring to a person of nobility.
In Germany, variants are spelled Gren and Graf and in Switzerland Graf is also used as the spelling.
The name Greeven is likely a patronymic name which was derived from a person's father's first name and was likely handed down through the generations.
As Greeven can be difficult to trace due to variants, some spellings are not used anymore, like Greven and Grieve, and some may because they aren't used anymore, like Greevin. It is important to take those variants into account when researching the family history.
Famous people with the name Greeven
- Rupert Greeven: Dutch entrepreneur, television presenter, author, and innovator
- Michael Greeven: German business executive, consultant, and speaker
- Dean Greeven: American editor, writer, and director of short films
- Kyle Greeven: American TV producer who has worked on House of Cards and Transparent
- Billy Greeven: American musician, actor, and podcaster
- Christoph Greeven: German filmmaker, musician, and producer
- Xinxin Greeven: American actress known for her roles in Blue Bloods and Unforgettable
- Janko Greeven: Belgian photographer and contemporary artist
- Laura Greeven: Canadian fashion designer and illustrator
- Adolf Greeven: American professional wrestler of German descent