Groesbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The history of the Groesbeck family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Groesbeck is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Groesbeck is a name for a large person. This family name is derived from the German word gross, indicating prodigious size.

Early Origins of the Groesbeck family

The surname Groesbeck was first found in Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Guenther Gross, founder of the Bavarian line von Trockau, appeared as early as 1097, when he fought under Gottfried von Bouillon against the infidels; after his period of service he settled in Franconia.

Early History of the Groesbeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Groesbeck research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1501 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Groesbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Groesbeck Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Groesbeck include Gross, Grose, Groes, Grosse, Groess, Groesse and many more.

Early Notables of the Groesbeck family

More information is included under the topic Early Groesbeck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Groesbeck Ranking

In the United States, the name Groesbeck is the 18,199^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Groesbeck migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Groesbeck surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Groesbeck Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Claes Jacobse Groesbeck, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1620-1664 2
Claes Groesbeck, who landed in Albany, NY in 1624 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Groesbeck (post 1700) +

Alexander Joseph Groesbeck (1873-1953), American politician, Governor of the state of Michigan (1921-1927)
William Slocum Groesbeck (1815-1897), American politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)