Show ContentsGrewe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Grewe family

The surname Grewe was first found in Worcestershire where the family was first referenced in the year 1275 when Margeria Groucok was listed as holding lands in the Subsidy Rolls at that time. William Grucock was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1312. 1

The Grew, Grue and Grow variants have a slightly different origin. They hail from Yorkshire where the "surname is derived from a nickname, 'the grew,' 'Grew, a greyhound." 2. "It is worth noticing, however, that my instances are from Yorkshire. Henry III in 1350 spent his Christmas at York. In the expenditure for that visit appears the provision of '7000 fowls, 1750 partridges, 125 swans, 115 'grues' (an unknown bird), 125 peacocks, 290 pheasants,' &c.; v. Miss Holt's paper in Christmas number of The Fireside, 1887. As every other bird in the list is a familiar surname to-day, there is no reason why the 'grue' should not be the same." 3

Reviewing the aforementioned Groucock and Grucock entries point strongly to the use of the name as a "bird."

Indeed the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 confirm the "northern" origin for this variant as Johannes Grewe; Johanna Grewe; and Agnes Grewe are all listed as holding there at that time. 3

Early History of the Grewe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grewe research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1455, 1487, 1607, 1641, 1689 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Grewe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grewe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Growcock, Growcott, Groucott, Groucock, Growcot, Grocot, Grewcot, Grocott, Groocot, Groocott, Grewcott, Grew, Grewe, Grucock, Grucott, Grucot, Groow and many more.

Early Notables of the Grewe family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grewe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grewe family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers who were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Grewe (post 1700) +

  • Isabelle Grewe, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1956, 1960 4
  • Fred A. Grewe Jr., American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Ohio County; Elected 1966, 1968, 1972 4


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Halliwell, James Orchard. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial WordsLondon: John Russel Smith, Old Compton Street, Soho, 1848, Digital, 2 Vols
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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