Explore the Family Name De Graaf

The meaning of De Graaf

Dutch: from graaf ‘count’ (see Graf), with the addition of the definite article de ‘the’, hence a nickname for the servant of a count or for someone supposedly resembling one, and also a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn named with this word. Some characteristic forenames: Dutch Gerrit, Adriaan, Bastiaan, Cornelis, Dirk, Geert.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name De Graaf in the United States?

According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname De Graaf has seen a rise in popularity over the years. In 2000, De Graaf held the rank of 24,929, but this increased by 10.71% to 22,260 in 2010. This leap in ranking is reflected in the count of people with the De Graaf surname, which saw a significant increase from 936 in 2000 to 1,158 in 2010 – a growth of 23.72%. The proportion of individuals with the De Graaf surname per 100,000 also grew by 11.43%, from 0.35 in 2000 to 0.39 in 2010.

20002010Change
Rank#24,929#22,26010.71%
Count9361,15823.72%
Proportion per 100k0.350.3911.43%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name De Graaf

Delving into the ethnicity of those bearing the De Graaf surname, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, white individuals make up the vast majority, with 95.51% in 2000 slightly decreasing to 95.25% in 2010. Individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander made up 0.85% in 2000 and this figure rose by 31.76% to 1.12% in 2010. Those claiming two or more ethnic identities represented 1.39% in 2000, slightly dipping to 1.38% in 2010. The Hispanic population within this surname group marginally increased from 1.71% to 1.73% between 2000 and 2010. There were no recorded Black, American Indian, or Alaskan Native individuals with the De Graaf surname in either year.

20002010Change
White95.51%95.25%-0.27%
Hispanic1.71%1.73%1.17%
Two or More Races1.39%1.38%-0.72%
Asian/Pacific Islander0.85%1.12%31.76%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%