Surname Greife - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Greife: What does the surname Greife mean?
The last name Greife is of German origin and is thought to have derived from a German nickname for someone related to a Griffin, an ancient mythical creature with the head, wings, and arms of an eagle and the body of a lion. Alternatively, it may also be associated with the German word “Graf”, which can mean “count” or “nobleman”.
The name has long been present in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Records show that the last name Greife has been around since at least the 14th century in Germany, with a Greife family having owned the castle near Dinslaken, in the Rhineland, in 1325.
The name Greife is a relatively uncommon last name, but can be found in many areas of Europe today. In Germany it is most common in the western and northern areas, with its highest prevalence in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The name can also be found in the US, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
In the US, the last name Greife is most common in the states of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. It is believed that these areas were mainly settled by Frisian and Low German immigrants, many of whom carried the Greife surname.
The name Greife is associated with positive traits such as being brave, strong-willed, honest, and practical. Greifes are thought to be reliable, dependable, and loyal, with a strong sense of justice and a respect for authority.
Order DNA origin analysisGreife: Where does the name Greife come from?
The last name Greife is most commonly found in Germany today. According to Geneanet, a family name database, the Greife surname is found in areas including Germany, the United States, Chile, France, Switzerland, and other countries in Europe.
In Germany, the Greife surname is the most concentrated in the Regional State of Bavaria, where it is found in the towns of Hof, Nuremburg, and other towns throughout the region. Greife is also heavily found in the regions of Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hamburg. The city of Berlin is estimated to contain the most people with the Greife last name in the country, with nearly 800 people with the name. Outside of Germany, the United States contains the most people with the Greife surname.
The Greife surname is a German patronymic name, meaning ‘son of Greif’. It is derived from the old-high- German personal name, Greif, which means ‘griffin’ or ‘strong’. The Greife surname, therefore, indicates that early family members were the descendants of a man with the name Greif. The families with the name are likely to have ancient Germanic roots, as the Greif name can be traced back to Germany in ancient times.
Variations of the surname Greife
The surname Greife is believed to have originated from the German and Scandinavian culture. It is believed to have started as an occupational surname for a hunter, or someone who is skilled with a spear or a lance. The variants of the surname Greife are Greiff, Greif, Greifen, Greiffen, Grief and Griefe.
In the German language, 'greife' is a verb meaning 'to seize', 'to apprehend', 'to clutch' or ‘to touch’. This could imply the surname derives from a profession of hunting or someone who has a technical skill of seizing or apprehending.
The dog breed the German wirehaired Pointer is also called the 'Greifhund’, which translates to 'Seizer' in English. This could be a further indication of the origin of the name.
People with this surname who immigrated to English-speaking countries often adopted the Anglicized version of Greife, which is Greiff or Grief. These are more often found in England, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Despite the many variants of Greife, there are no other surnames that are thought to have the same origin.
Overall, the surname Greife is a German and Scandinavian origin and has many variants such as Greiff, Greif, Greifen, Greiffen, Grief and Griefe. The name likely derives from an occupational of hunting or having a specific skill set. People with the name Greife often adopt the Anglicized versions Greiff or Grief when immigrating to English-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Greife
- Kendra Greife: American actress, also known as the “Queen of the B’s”, she has appeared in a number of B movies.
- Nikolai Greife: Russian political scientist and lawyer, Deputy Minister of Justice of Russia from 2012 to 2016.
- Marshall Greife: American World War II hero and recipient of the Silver Star for bravery.
- Don Greife: American architect and business executive, he was a leader in the Los Angeles part of Southern California homebuilding industry.
- Maxim Greife: Russian journalist and editor, he is the editor of the Russian news site Mediazona.
- Tim Greife: American English professor, author, and editor, he has been an associate professor at the University of Evansville since 2005.
- Andy Greife: American guitarist and composer, member of the progressive rock band Rocket Scientists.
- Corinna Greife: German ski jumper, she competed in FIS Ski Jumping World Cup from 2001 to 2009.
- Kristina Greife: Australian long-distance swimmer, she broke the world record for the fastest solo English Channel crossings in the fastest time in 18 hours 33 minutes in 2002.
- Peter Greife: American artist, he is known for his colorful abstract paintings, which were exhibited in Soho galleries in New York and internationally.