Explore the Family Name Greif
The meaning of Greif
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a gryphon, Middle High German grīf(e), German Greif (Old High German grīf(o), from Late Latin gryphus, Greek gryps, of Assyrian origin). As a Jewish name, it is also one of the surnames randomly assigned by Austrian clerks. 2. German: nickname for a grasping man, the gryphon in folk etymology having come to be associated with Middle High German grīfen ‘to grasp or snatch’. 3. English: variant of Grieve. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Arnon, Emanuel, Aron, Avner, Hyman, Igal, Meyer.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Greif in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Greif has seen a slight decrease in popularity over a decade. In 2000, it was ranked as the 18,827th most common surname in the United States with 1,344 individuals carrying this name. By 2010, its rank had dropped to 20,971st and the count of people with this surname had fallen to 1,255, constituting a decline of approximately 6.62%. Correspondingly, the proportion of people named Greif per 100,000 residents also fell by 14% between 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,827 | #20,971 | -11.39% |
| Count | 1,344 | 1,255 | -6.62% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.43 | -14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Greif
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Greif, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates some shifts. The majority of individuals with the surname Greif identified as White, although this percentage decreased slightly from 97.84% in 2000 to 95.94% in 2010. The data also shows an increase in diversity among those bearing the Greif surname, with a notable growth in the number of people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those reporting two or more races. These groups saw increases of 116.22% and 243.24%, respectively. The percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic also increased, from 1.12% in 2000 to 1.51% in 2010. No individuals with the Greif surname identified as Black, American Indian, or Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.84% | 95.94% | -1.94% |
| Hispanic | 1.12% | 1.51% | 34.82% |
| Two or More Races | 0.37% | 1.27% | 243.24% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 0.8% | 116.22% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |