Surname Greulich - Meaning and Origin

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H. Greulich

Greulich: What does the surname Greulich mean?

The last name Greulich is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the German word “graulich”, which means dreadful or horrible. In the Middle Ages, people would have taken on such names to express their feelings of dreadfulness or horror about something. It could have been used to express a strong physical or emotional reaction they experienced in dangerous or difficult situations. It could have also been used to signify extreme reactions to a traumatic event or something that caused terror or dread.

Over time, the name may have been Anglicized, as Greulich is now a common German-American surname. It is not found in other countries, although it is still used as a first name, as well as other derivatives like Greul or Greule.

Today, Greulich is used as a surname primarily in the US, Germany and Switzerland. It is also found in other parts of the world where people of Germanic descent have emigrated.

In other parts of the world, individuals carrying this name may be identified as Germanic, suggesting a distant connection to the root of the surname. Some people today may still use the surname Greulich to express strong fear or dread. In this way, the name Greulich can be viewed as a reminder of the power of fear and the residual marks it leaves on our culture and on our history.

Greulich: Where does the name Greulich come from?

The last name Greulich is a German family name, originating in a region where it is still quite common today – Germany and the German-speaking countries of Austria and Switzerland. The name is derived from the former Germanic language, Greulich, literally meaning "gray people", although it is not known if this represents an actual ethnic group or a description of early inhabitants.

In modern Germany, the last name is most common in the southern and western parts of the country, including Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also found in some parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Thuringia. In Austria, the surname is also most common in the southern and western provinces, particularly Salzburg, Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Lower Austria.

In the United States, the surname Greulich is fairly uncommon; fewer than 1,800 people were found to have the name during the 2000 United States Census. Most people with the name live in the Midwest, mostly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. There are also small populations of the name in Texas, Ohio, and Indiana.

Finally, the last name Greulich can also be found in areas with large populations of German and Austrian immigrants, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Greulich

The surname Greulich is derived from the German surname Greule and is thought to have its roots in the Middle High German given name “Greule”, which is ultimately derived from the Old High German word “griwul” meaning wild boar. This surname can also be found spelled as Graulich, Graul, Graule, and Graulein.

In German-speaking countries, the variations of the surname are graul/Graul, Graulich, Greul/Greule, Greulich and Graulein. Some variations of the surname may be derived from local dialects.

Outside of German speaking countries, there are many variations of the surname Greulich, including Graylish, Graylick, Greelish, Greelock, Graulick, Greuloch, Grealk, and Grayloch.

In the United States, variants of the Greulich surname may be spelled as Grealy, Greer, Greerly, Griley, Groaly, Grealish, Grayly, Graylich, Graley, Grealish, Grail.

In Canada, the variations may be Greally, Grear, Greeric, Grerely, Grayley, Grayelich, Glirely, Gliraly, Grealley, Grearly, Graill.

Many Greulichs have changed the spelling of their surname due to immigration and assimilation to fit in better with the cultures of their new homes. These families may now spell their surnames as Green, Grauel, Groh, Greiner, Graf, Grob, Grau, or even Gruel.

Famous people with the name Greulich

• Vaughn Greulich: former MLB pitcher
• Erich Greulich: German theologian and author
• Herbert Greulich: German chemist and physicist
• Dave Greulich: American sports announcer
• Zygmunt Greulich: Polish physician and botanist
• Ingeborg Greulich: German sculptor
• Adam Greulich: German photographer
• Karl Greulich: German painter and graphic artist
• Steve Greulich: American professional golfer
• August Greulich: German mathematician
• Ingo Greulich: German musician
• Frieda Greulich: German actor

Other surnames

Greuling