NameCensus.

UK surname

Graf

A German occupational surname referring to a count, earl, or a high-ranking nobleman.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Graf surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Paisley Central and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Graf is 175 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 311.9%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2013

175 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Graf had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Graf surname distribution map

The map shows where the Graf surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Graf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Graf over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 5 #32,456
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 172 #21,649
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Grafs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, St Pancras and Totnes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Paisley Central, Ceredigion, Portsmouth and Wandsworth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Totnes Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 005 Carmarthenshire
2 Paisley Central Renfrewshire
3 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
4 Portsmouth 006 Portsmouth
5 Wandsworth 018 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Graf

These lists show first names that appear often with the Graf surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Graf

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Graf, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Graf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Graf household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Graf is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Graf is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Graf falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Graf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Graf, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Graf

The surname GRAF originated in Germany and has its roots in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Graf," which means "count" or "earl." This name was initially given to individuals who held a position of nobility or high rank within the feudal system.

In the early medieval period, the term "Graf" referred to a high-ranking official who oversaw a county or territory on behalf of a sovereign. These Grafs wielded considerable power and influence within their respective domains. The name likely emerged as a way to identify individuals associated with this esteemed position.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GRAF can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony. This codex, which dates back to the 12th century, mentions several individuals bearing the name GRAF, indicating its widespread use during that time.

The name GRAF also appears in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. For example, in the 14th century, a certain Heinrich GRAF is mentioned in the Annales Guelpherbytani, a chronicle of events in the Brunswick region.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname GRAF throughout history are:

1. Andreas GRAF (1630-1701), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude. 2. Johann GRAF (1684-1750), a Swiss mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of optics and the nature of light. 3. Johann Heinrich GRAF (1786-1876), a German writer and philosopher known for his works on ethics and aesthetics. 4. Arturo GRAF (1848-1913), an Italian poet, literary critic, and scholar who played a significant role in the development of Italian literature. 5. Max GRAF (1873-1958), a Swiss writer and academic who specialized in the study of classical literature and philosophy.

The surname GRAF is still prevalent in German-speaking countries, as well as in regions where German immigrants settled. It has also been subject to various spellings and variations over time, such as Graff, Grafe, and Gräf, reflecting regional variations and linguistic adaptations.

While the name GRAF may have lost some of its direct association with nobility in modern times, it continues to carry a sense of prestige and historical significance, serving as a testament to its rich heritage and the influential role its bearers played in shaping the course of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Graf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Graf surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 26 Grafs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 6.20x
Kent 6 4.19x
Devon 5 5.73x
Surrey 3 1.47x
Glamorgan 1 1.37x
Midlothian 1 1.78x
Sussex 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 7 Grafs recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.49x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 7 169.49x
Hackney London 5 21.28x
Holy Trinity 5 2777.78x
Hougham 4 470.59x
Hornsey 3 56.60x
Stoke Newington London 3 91.74x
St Marylebone London 2 8.94x
St Pancras London 2 5.93x
Aberdare 1 19.96x
Camberwell 1 3.73x
Clapham 1 19.08x
Hampstead London 1 15.31x
Inveresk 1 65.79x
Islington London 1 2.46x
Kensington London 1 4.29x
Lee 1 48.08x
Newhaven 1 175.44x
Orpington 1 227.27x
Southwark Christchurch 1 51.02x
Willesden 1 25.32x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Graf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ada 3
Maria 3
Lucy 2
A. 1
Acinia 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Louisa 1
Madie 1
Mary 1
Rossa 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Graf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 5
John 4
Anton 1
Carl 1
Conrad 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Gottfried 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hermann 1
Jacob 1
Oscar 1
Otto 1
Wilhelm 1
William 1

FAQ

Graf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Graf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Graf surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Graf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Graf a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Graf surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a count, earl, or a high-ranking nobleman.

What does the Graf map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Graf bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.