Greef Surname

The History and Significance of the Surname Greef

The surname Greef has a rich history and has been found in various countries around the world. It is believed to have originated from Germany, where it was derived from the medieval given name Greve, meaning "count" or "nobleman." Over time, the name evolved into the surname Greef and spread to other countries through immigration, trade, and military conquests.

Origins in South Africa

In South Africa, the surname Greef has a particularly strong presence, with an incidence of 1889 recorded in the country. The name likely arrived in South Africa during the Dutch colonial period in the 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch settlers, known as Boers, brought their surnames with them as they established farms and settlements in the Cape Colony. The Greef surname was then passed down through generations of South African descendants, contributing to its prevalence in the region.

Spread to Europe

The Greef surname also has a presence in various European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, England, Belgium, France, and Russia. In the Netherlands, the surname has an incidence of 169, indicating a significant number of individuals with the name in the country. Similarly, in Germany, the incidence of Greef is 151, reflecting its popularity in the region.

In England, the Greef surname has an incidence of 161, suggesting a moderate presence in the country. The name may have been introduced to England through interactions with Dutch and German traders and settlers. Over time, individuals with the surname Greef established roots in England and integrated into the local population, contributing to the spread of the name.

Presence in the Americas

The Greef surname has also made its way to the Americas, with incidences recorded in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Argentina. In the United States, the surname has an incidence of 67, indicating a modest presence in the country. American immigrants of Dutch, German, and other European descent likely brought the Greef surname with them as they settled in the New World.

In Brazil, the Greef surname has an incidence of 147, suggesting a significant number of individuals with the name in the country. The name may have been introduced to Brazil through Dutch and Portuguese colonization efforts, as well as through later waves of immigration from Europe. Similarly, in Canada and Argentina, the Greef surname has a presence, with incidences of 17 and 1 respectively.

Global Distribution

Overall, the Greef surname has a global presence, with incidences recorded in countries such as Australia, Estonia, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan. In Australia, the surname has an incidence of 59, indicating a notable number of individuals with the name in the country. Australian immigrants of Dutch, German, and other European descent likely contributed to the spread of the Greef surname in the region.

In Estonia, the Greef surname has an incidence of 12, suggesting a modest presence in the country. Similarly, in Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan, the name has a smaller but recognizable presence, with incidences of 5, 2, and 1 respectively. The global distribution of the Greef surname highlights its widespread popularity and the diverse communities that bear the name.

Legacy and Impact

Throughout history, the Greef surname has been associated with nobility, countship, and familial heritage. Individuals with the name may take pride in their ancestral ties to Dutch, German, and other European cultures, as well as their contributions to the diverse societies in which they reside. The prevalence of the Greef surname in various countries underscores the interconnected nature of global migration, trade, and cultural exchange.

As the Greef surname continues to be passed down through generations, its legacy and impact will endure, linking individuals around the world to their shared history and heritage. Whether in South Africa, Europe, the Americas, or beyond, the Greef surname serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of human experience and the interconnectedness of global communities.

The surname Greef within the world

Globalization has meant that surnames spread far beyond their nation of origin, such that it can be done to get African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The exact same happens when it comes to Greef, which as you can corroborate, it may be stated that it is a surname that may be present in a lot of the nations for the world. In the same manner there are countries by which definitely the density of individuals utilizing the surname Greef is more than far away.

The map for the Greef surname

View Greef surname map

The chance of examining for a world map about which countries hold more Greef on the planet, assists us a whole lot. By placing ourselves in the map, on a concrete nation, we can start to see the concrete number of people aided by the surname Greef, to acquire this way the particular information of all of the Greef that you can currently get in that nation. All of this additionally helps us to understand not merely where the surname Greef originates from, but also in what way the people who're originally area of the household that bears the surname Greef have relocated and relocated. In the same manner, you'll be able to see in which places they've settled and developed, and that's why if Greef is our surname, it seems interesting to which other countries of this world it will be possible any particular one of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Greef in the world

  1. South Africa South Africa (1889)
  2. Netherlands Netherlands (169)
  3. England England (161)
  4. Germany Germany (151)
  5. Brazil Brazil (147)
  6. United States United States (67)
  7. Australia Australia (59)
  8. Belgium Belgium (39)
  9. France France (31)
  10. Canada Canada (17)
  11. Estonia Estonia (12)
  12. Russia Russia (5)
  13. Scotland Scotland (3)
  14. Namibia Namibia (3)
  15. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (2)
  16. Argentina Argentina (1)
  17. Spain Spain (1)
  18. Wales Wales (1)
  19. Haiti Haiti (1)
  20. Indonesia Indonesia (1)
  21. New Zealand New Zealand (1)
  22. Portugal Portugal (1)
  23. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (1)
  24. Taiwan Taiwan (1)