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Greif Family History

Greif Name Meaning

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. 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’. English: variant of Grieve .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Greis, Reis, Grein, Reiff, Green, Reil, Gress, Reef, Greve, Gleim

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Where is the Greif family from?

You can see how Greif families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Greif family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Greif families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Greif families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Greif's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Greif families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Greif surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Greif

What did your Greif ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Greif | Data not to scale

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Farmer
13%
Laborer
9%
Manager
9%
Clerk
7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Housewife
16%
Clerk
12%
Typist
12%
Stenographer
12%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Greif family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Greif. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Greif census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Greif
Passenger Lists
There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Greif. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Greif immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Greif. For the veterans among your Greif ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Greif military records

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Greif. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Greif census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Greif

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Greif. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Greif immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Greif. For the veterans among your Greif ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Greif military records

You've only scratched the surface of Greif family history

Discover More

What is the average Greif lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Greif life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Greif in 1954 was 30, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Greif

Browse profiles of historical people with the Greif last name