Where Does the Gräfe Surname Come From?

Gräfe and Graf are two spellings with one history. Its meaning, shared with Graf, is “Count”.

A variant of Graf

Before spelling was fixed, Graf was also written Gräfe. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists. You may also find the name written Graaffe, Grave and Graef.

In the 2010 US Census, 601 Americans gave Gräfe as their last name (rank 37,125). Similar-sounding surnames on Herald Lab: Graff.

Gräfe coat of arms

Looking for a Gräfe coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Want more than a summary? See the Gräfe family name pack.