Surname Marggraff - Meaning and Origin

Marggraff: What does the surname Marggraff mean?

The last name Marggraff is believed to be of German origin, and comes from the Middle Dutch word "margraf," which was used to describe any kind of nobleman or administrative official. The similar-sounding "graff" likely referred to someone with a high rank.

The name appears to have been in use in Germany since at least the 13th century, when one Otto Margrave of Brandenburg held a prominent military position in the country's south-western region.

The Marggraff family name has several variants, including Marberger, Margetzer, Markgraf, and Markref. This is likely due to the changing local dialects and spellings of the same name over the centuries.

The exact meaning of the name is still uncertain, but it likely had some kind of aristocratic or military connotation at the time of its origin. In the modern world, the Marggraff surname serves as an indicator of the family's long and distinguished ancestry.

Marggraff: Where does the name Marggraff come from?

The last name Marggraff is a German surname originating from Bavaria. It may refer to a place of residence or an occupation. Today it is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and the United States.

In Germany, the last name Marggraff is most commonly found in Munich, Bavaria, located in south-central Germany. The popularity of this surname likely has to do with historical immigration trends, as this particular region of Bavaria was the site of the Huguenot migration of French Protestants during the 16th century.

In Austria, the German surname Marggraff is found primarily in western Austrian provinces such as Burgenland and Lower Austria. Marggraff is also found in small pockets in Styria and Vorarlberg.

In the United States, Marggraff is most common in states that make up the traditional Midwestern Rust Belt, particularly Ohio and Wisconsin. This is likely due to immigration from Germany that began in the mid-19th century and continued through the early 20th century. In 1990 the census showed the highest concentration of Marggraffs in the state of Ohio.

The surname Marggraff appears to be gaining popularity in recent years as more people of German descent trace their roots and begin searching for their ancestors. As with most surnames, its prevalence as a family name changes over time due to immigration, emigration, and intermarriage, but it remains a popular choice in many areas of the world today.

Variations of the surname Marggraff

The Marggraff surname may derive from either of the two sources; either from the first name "Mark" or a place name. Variants of this surname include Maragreff, Maragraf, Maragroff, Marggruf, Margraf, Margraff, Margraft, Margrath, and Margreff.

The surname "Mark" is derived from the Latin name Marcus, and its original meaning is "dedicated to Mars". Its English variation, "Mark", was initially used as both first and last name, and is still used today. Surnames that derive from Mark include Marko, Markley, Markee, Marker, Markham, Markin, and Markson.

The place name "Mergraf" can also be the source of the Marggraff surname. It is an Old German name, meaning "boundary castle", potentially referring to a castle located near a border. Variants of this name are Maragraf, Maragroff, Margruf, Margraf, and Margreff.

In the United States, the earliest known Marggraff ancestor is Antoine Marggraff, who arrived in the country in 1653 from Germany. He established one of the first permanent Marggraff families in America, and the surname has since been adopted by people of a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Overall, Marggraff is a relatively uncommon surname that may have originated as either a first or last name, or as a place name. Its variants, spellings, and surnames all trace back to those origins, and provide us with insights into the origins of this unusual surname.

Famous people with the name Marggraff

• Barbara Marggraff: She is an American actress and writer best known for her role as Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy television series Glee.
• Scott Marggraff: He is an American electrical engineer widely known for his work on bio-metric authentication, computer software and smart cards.
• Adriana Marggraff: She is a Brazilian voice actress also known for providing the voice of Rey in the Brazilian Portuguese dub of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• Martha Marggraff: A Colombian professional wrestler, also known by her ring name Martha Elvi.
• Ruth Marggraff: An American playwright, author, and academic who wrote the plays Soubrette in 2000 and Circe Teros in 2002.
• Nico Marggraff: A Dutch professional poker player born in Appeldorn.
• Elmar Marggraff: A former East German soccer player and manager of FC Oberlausitz Neugersdorf.
• Hans Marggraff: A German composer, conductor and jazz musician.
• Jürgen Marggraff: A German musicologist and composer who composed the music for several television series and films.

Other surnames

Marggraf