Show ContentsGraeber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished German surname Graeber is derived from the Old High German "graban," meaning "to dig." The name was originally used to indicate "a digger of graves or ditches."

Early Origins of the Graeber family

The surname Graeber was first found in Austria, where in ancient times the Graber family played a significant role within the region's feudal society. The name Grabner became prominent in local affairs and often intermarried with other distinguished families, some of whom played important roles in the territorial conflicts of the period.

Early History of the Graeber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Graeber research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1507, 1585, 1602, 1655, 1666, 1680, 1700 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Graeber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Graeber Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grabner, Grabber, Graeber, Graebner, Gravner, Grabbne, Grabne, Grubner, Grappner, Grapner, Grabere, Graben, Grabel, Grabert, Grable, Grabnere, Grabnen, Grabnel, Grabbere, Grabben, Grabbel, Greber, Grebere, Greben, Graebner, Graebnere, Graebnen, Graebber, Graebbere, Graebben, Craver and many more.

Early Notables of the Graeber family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Graeber were Virgil von Graben (died 1507) was an Austrian noble and knight; Maria de Grebber (1602-1680), a Dutch Golden Age painter; David Graebner who was rewarded for his distinguished service in 1700 when he was ennobled; and Johann Gottlieb Grabbe (1585-1655) was a German...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Graeber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Graeber migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Graeber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hieronymus Graeber, who landed in America in 1747 [1]
  • Maria Mara Graeber, who arrived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1750 [1]
  • Maria Margaretha Graeber, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 [1]
  • Anton Graeber, who landed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1750 [1]
  • Jacob Graeber, who landed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1754 [1]
Graeber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Graeber, aged 27, who landed in Missouri in 1849 [1]
  • William W Graeber, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 [1]
  • Adam Graeber, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 [1]
Graeber Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Henry Graeber, who arrived in Alabama in 1915 [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Graeber (post 1700) +

  • David Rolfe Graeber (b. 1961), American-born, England-based anthropologist and anarchist activist


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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