Surname Grabow - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Origins and Journey of the Grabow Surname Through iGENEA DNA Test

My quest to discover the origins of my surname, Grabow, led me to the iGENEA DNA test – a journey through my genetic makeup that revealed my tie to the ancient horsemen of the Kurgan culture, resilient hunter-gatherers of Europe, and the sustained roots in the Slavic regions. Snapshot of the past and, at the same time, the explanation of who I am today.

M. Grabow

Grabow: What does the surname Grabow mean?

Grabow is a German surname that can trace its roots back to a region called the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region of Germany. It is believed to have derived from a place name in this region, which was located near the Elbe and Warnow rivers. The meaning of the surname is derived from the old Slavic language and translates to “ditch” or “furrow”.

This surname may have originally been a locational name for someone who lived near or on a particular furrow or ditch, or it could have been used as an occupational name for a farmer who maintained those furrows and ditches. In other words, Grabow may have been used to identify a person who worked with furrows and ditches on the land.

The surname Grabow first appeared in documents in the year 1330 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where it was listed as a landowner in an area called Kummerow. This surname is also present in a book of heraldry, ‘Genealogisches Handbuch’, where it was listed as a noble family originating from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Today, Grabow is not a common surname but it is still found in Germany and in the United States, where it was brought by German immigrants. Those who carry the Grabow surname are proud to share a legacy that stretches back centuries and that is rooted in place, work, and family.

Grabow: Where does the name Grabow come from?

The last name Grabow is most commonly found in the United States, Germany, and Poland. In the United States, the name is most densely concentrated in the Midwest region, especially in states like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

In Germany, Grabow is a very common name, particularly in the northern region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also more prevalent in the eastern German states like Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thüringen.

The name is also popular in Poland, and its spelling may vary between Grabow or Grabowiec. It is concentrated in the regions of Lesser Poland, Pomeranian, and Masovian.

It is believed that the name Grabow refers to a person who originated from the city Grabow, which is located in the Elbe-area of Lower-Saxony in Germany. This could explain why the name is so prevalent in the United States and Germany. However, it is likely that other people bearers of this name originated from different places.

Overall, the name Grabow is quite common in the United States, Germany, and Poland. It is also increasingly being found in other countries in Europe and around the world thanks to international migrations.

Variations of the surname Grabow

Grabow is an anglicized form of the German surname Grabow, which has a variety of spelling variations and alternate surnames of similar origin. Such variations include Grabes, Grabau, Graber, Graeb, Graebel, Graebener, Graebling, Grabauer, Grabhorn, Grybowski, and Grybowska. Grabow is also a variant of the old German name Grabau, which could be derived from the words "ein graßer Bauer" which mean a great farmer.

The Grabow surname can also be found as a Jewish name, often seen in Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian documents. This spelling variation is commonly written as Gribov or Gribovsky, or its Yiddish version Gribovitz.

Other spellings of the Grabow include Grábowsky, Graebuss, Graeff, Graef, Graeffe, Graefe, Graeve, Graevek, Graf, Graff, Graffe, Graffing, Graffit, Grafign, Grafit, Grafke, Grahm, Graicy, Gram, Graus, Grauss, Graw, Grauba, Grauber, Gräbel, Grebel, Gräbl, Grebl, Grabl, and Gräbner among many others.

The Grabow surname can also be found in various countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Germany. While some variants of the name may have emerged due to the prevalence of regional dialects, most of the surnames originated from the same individual or family.

Famous people with the name Grabow

• Craig Grabow: Former bassist in the rock band Uncle Kracker
• Ray Grabow: Former NHL hockey player
• Harry Grabow: Hollywood film director
• Gilbert Grabow: Award Winning Architect
• Bob Grabow: 1952 Gold Medalist, Olympic cyclist
• Dennis Grabow: Former professional baseball player
• Murray Grabow: Visual Effects artist
• Joe Grabow: Award-winning photojournalist and television producer
• David Grabow: Broadway actor
• Emmett Grabow: Former USA Indoor Track and Field Athlete
• Mary Grabow: NPR landscape architect and artist
• Nate Grabow: Retired NFL wide receiver
• David Grabow: Author and poet
• Jon Grabow: Makeup and Special Effects artist
• Joe Grabow: Chief Meteorologist for NBC-17 shown on the ESBN Network
• Stephen Grabow: Award-winning author and poet
• Hayley Grabow: Professional snowboarder and athlete
• Richard Grabow: Renowned concert pianist
• Jonathan Grabow: Violinist and composer
• William Grabow: Renowned chef and restaurateur

Other surnames

GrabovskiGrabowskiGrabowsky