History

IT IS SAID THAT THE FAMILY GRAEFF / DE GRAEFF ORIGINALLY DESCENDANT FROM WOLFGANG VON GRABEN († 1521), MEMBER OF THE AUSTRIAN VON GRABEN FAMILY. IN 1476, WOLFGANG AND HIS SON PETER VON GRABEN (BORN AROUND 1450/1460) WENT TO HOLLAND IN THE ENTOURAGE OF ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIAN OF AUSTRIA [THE LATER EMPEROR]. THE LATTER HAD JUST ACQUIRED HOLLAND BY MARRYING MARY OF BURGUNDY. MARGARETHE VON CROPPENSTEIN IS REPORTED AS PETER'S MOTHER, BUT THIS CANNOT BE CORRECT, SINCE SHE IS MENTIONED AS THE WIFE OF A WOLFGANG VON GRABEN, BUT ONLY IN THE 16TH CENTURY, WHICH THEREFORE APPLIES TO A LATER WOLFGANG VON GRABEN. WOLFGANG ENTERED THE MILITARY SERVICE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARCHDUKE. PETER MARRIED GRIET PIETERSDR BERENTS FROM THE PATRICIAN AND LOWER NOBLE "BERENTS-De GREBBER FAMILY". HE TOOK THE NAME PIETER (DE) GRAEFF (OR DE GRAAFF) AND BECAME THE ANCESTOR OF THE DUTCH GRAEFF/DE GRAEFF FAMILY WOLFGANG WAS ALSO MENTIONED IN HOLLAND IN 1483. THE MEANING OF THE GRAEFF FAMILY NAME SEEMS TO BE ALREADY CLEAR; DURING THE 14TH AND 15TH THE GERMAN WORD "GRABEN" MEANT "GRAEFF" [GRAEF] IN THE DUTCH SPEAKING NETHERLANDS. THE (DE) GRAEFF FAMILY COAT OF ARMS SHOWS THE SILVER SPADE ON RED AND THE WHOLE CREST OF THE VON GRABEN. THE FATE OF THE GRAEFF / DE GRAEFF FAMILIES IN THE CENTURIES THERE AFTER IS A TRUE PICTURE OF THE POLITICAL CHANGES.

THE PROGENITOR OF THE GRAEFF / DE GRAEFF FAMILY, PIETER GRAEFF (BORN AROUND 1450/1460), MAY LIVED AT THE AMSTERDAM AREA. AROUND 1512 HE WAS MARRIED TO GRIET PIETERSDR BERENTS OF AMSTERDAM. SHE DESCENT FROM WOUTER BERENSZ AND HIS WIFE DIEUWER WILLEMSDR DE GREBBER, CALLED BERENTS, OF THE NOBLE DE GREBBER FAMILY, BALJUWS OF WATERLAND (IN THE NORTH OF AMSTERDAM), AND WILLEM EGGERT (1360-1417) STADTHOLDER OF HOLLAND. THE BERENTS FAMILY BELONGED TO THE AMSTERDAM PATRICIATE AND INHERITED THE FIEF RANDENBROEK [AMERSFOORT] FROM THE DE GREBBER. PIETER'S LINE WAS CONTINUED BY HIS ONLY KNOWN SON, JAN PIETERSZ GRAEFF (BEFORE 1512–1553). AT HIS HUIS DE KEYSER ON THE DAMRAK HE RAN A FLOURISHING CLOTH TRADE. IN 1542 HE BECAME A COUNCILOR AND IN 1543 HE WAS APPOINTED ALDERMAN (SCHEPEN) OF JAN PIETERSZ HAD FIVE SONS, THE SECOND-BORN LENAERT JANSZ DE GRAEFF (1530/35- AFTER 1578) BECAME A LEADING MEMBER OF THE AMSTERDAM REFORMED CHURCH, AND INVOLVED IN THE RELIGIOUS LIBERATION STRUGGLE OF THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 1560S AND 1570S. IN 1567 HE WAS APPOINTED VICE-GENERAL-CAPTAIN OF AMSTERDAM UNDER HIS FRIEND COUNT HENDRICK VON BREDERODE, "DE GROTE GEUS", AND PROBABLY AS "MONSEIGNEUR DE GRAEFF" CAPTAIN OF THE WATERGEUS [SEA BEGGARS] WHO WHERE INVOLVED IN THE CAPTURE OF BRIELLE IN 1572. RECENT HISTORICAL BOOKS DESCRIBED DE GRAEFF AS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE SEA BEGGARS. HIS CHARACTER WAS USED IN A HISTORICAL NOVEL ABOUT DE GROTE GEUS BREDERODE. THE DUTCH-PRUSSIAN BRANCH OF DE GRAAFF, WHICH SETTLED TO BERLIN, PRUSSIA IN THE 1870s, IS SAID TO HAVE DESCENDED FROM LENAERT. FROM THIS CAME HENRI (HEINRICH) DE GRAAFF (1857–1924), WHO ACTED AS A PRUSSIAN-GERMAN LIEUTENANT-GENERAL IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR. JANS THIRD SON DIRK JANSZ GRAEFF (1532-1589) CONTINUED THE MAIN LINE. AS GOVERNING MAYOR OF AMSTERDAM AND FRIEND OF PRINCE WILLIAM I OF ORANGE (WILLIAM THE SILENT), HE WAS ABLE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE FAMILY'S POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE IN AMSTERDAM. HE HAD SHARES IN OVER 100 MERCHANT SHIPS, AND IN 1584/1585 HE WAS THE RICHEST RESIDENT OF AMSTERDAM WITH A FORTUNE OF 140,000 GUILDERS. SECONDARY LINES SPLIT OFF FROM JAN PIETERSZ YOUNGEST SON JACOB JANSZ GRAEFF (DIED AROUND 1580). THESE LIVED IN THE CITIES OF ALBLASSERDAM, ALKMAAR, LEIDEN AND DELFT, BUT COULD NOT GAIN INFLUENCE LIKE THOSE WHO REMAINED IN AMSTERDAM [THE LINE OF DIRK JANSZ GRAEFF]. THE BEST-KNOWN MEMBER WAS THE DUTCH REAR ADMIRAL ALBERT CLAESZ DE GRAEFF, A GREAT-GRANDSON OF JACOB JANSZ GRAEFF. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THERE ARE STILL MALE DESCENDANTS FROM THESE BRANCHES TODAY.

DURING THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE (AROUND 1588-1672), THE DE GRAEFF FAMILY HAD A LEADING ROLE IN THE AMSTERDAM AND HOLLAND ADMINISTRATION. THE FAMILY BELONGED TO THE REPUBLICAN POLITICAL MOVEMENT, ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE STATE ORIENTED, AS OPPOSED TO THE ROYALISTS OF THE HOUSE OF ORANGE-NASSAU. JACOB DIRCKSZ DE GRAEFF (1570–1638), ONE OF DIRKS SONS, BECAME SCHEPEN OF AMSTERDAM IN 1598 AND MEMBER OF VROEDSCHAP (MAGISTRAT) IN 1603. AFTER THE POLITICAL COLLAPSE OF THE ROYALISTIC AND CALVANISTIC [MAYOR FORM OF PROTESTANTISM] FACTION IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT IN 1627 JACOB RETURNED TO POWER AGAIN. DURING THE LATE 1620S AND THE 1630S HE CONTROLLED THE CITY'S POLITICS IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH HIS NEPHEW ANDRIES BICKER. BOTH BECAME LEADERS OF THE REINVIGORATED ARMINIAN [A BRANCH OF PROTESTANTISM] FACTION OF THE CITY. IN 1610 JACOB ACQUIRED THE FREE OR HIGH FIEF OF ZUID-POLSBROEK FROM CHARLES DE LIGNE, PRINCE OF AREMBERG, WHICH WAS FREELY INHERITABLE AND SELLABLE AS AN ALLOD. THEIR ACQUISITION INCREASED THE REPUTATION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ARISTOCRATIZATION OF THE FAMILY, IN WHICH JACOB AND HIS HEIRS COULD BE ADDRESSED AS VRIJHEER(EN) VAN ZUID-POLSBROEK EVER SINCE.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GOLDEN AGE THE BROTHERS CORNELIS AND ANDRIES DE GRAEFF TOGETHER WITH THEIR RELATIVES, THE ULTRA-REPUBLICAN MINDED BICKER FAMILY AND GRAND PENSIONARY JOHAN DE WITT (1625-1672), STRIVED TO THE ABOLITION OF STADTHOLDERSHIP. CORNELIS (1599-1664) WAS A POWERFULL AMSTERDAM REGENT AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF STADHOLDER WILLIAM II OF ORANGE, DURING THE FIRST STADTHOLDERLESS PERIOD (1650-1672). HE OPPOSED THE HOUSE OF ORANGE, AND WAS THE MODERATE AND DIPLOMATIC SUCCESSOR TO THE ULTRA-REPUBLICAN MINDED ANDRIES BICKER (1586-1652). IN THE MID 17TH CENTURY HE CONTROLLED THE CITY'S FINANCES AND POLITICS AND, IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH HIS NEPHEW JOHAN DE WITT [THE GRAND-PENSIONARY OF HOLLAN] THE NETHERLANDS POLITICAL SYSTEM. CORNELIS COMMUNICATED IN A SOFT AND EXEMPLARY WAY AND WAS HONEST AND OPEN, A NOVELTY FOR THE YOUNG REPUBLIC, AND FELT THAT IT WAS DE WITT WHO HAD BROUGHT AMSTERDAM AND ITS INTERESTS TO THEIR PRESENT GOOD FORTUNE. ALSO CORNELIS NEVER DROVE AMSTERDAM'S AFFAIRS ONTO THE ROCKS, BUT HAD A GOOD EYE FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE OTHER TOWNS OF HOLLAND AND AVOIDED A MODE OF POWER-POLITICS THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT AMSTERDAM ISOLATED. THE HISTORIAN HAJO BRUGMANS STATES THAT DE GRAEFF'S AIMS WERE NEARLY ALWAYS ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL - THE POWER OF AMSTERDAM IN HOLLAND, AND THE POWER OF THE REPUBLIC, WAS ONLY AS GREAT AS THEIR SOCIAL POWER, INCLUDING THE LIMITATION OF THE POWER OF THE HOUSE OF ORANGE. ONE POINT, HOWEVER, IS EMPHASISED BY BRUGMANS - THAT ONLY CORNELIS [OUT OF ALL AMSTERDAM'S POLITICIAN] WAS EVER ELECTED GRAND-PENSIONARY AND THEN ENTIRELY SUCCESSFUL IN PLEASING AMSTERDAM. AFTER CORNELIS' DEATH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER ANDRIES DE GRAEFF (1611-1678) TOOK OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICANIAN DE GRAEFF FACTION. IN 1667 HE WAS ONE OF THE PRIME MOVERS BEHIND THE PERPETUAL EDICT, A RESOLUTION OF THE STATES OF HOLLAND IN WHICH THEY ABOLISHED THE OFFICE OF STADTHOLDER IN THE PROVINCE OF HOLLAND. IN 1671 ANDRIES DE GRAEFF HAD A CLEAR MESSAGE IN MIND FOR A CEILING PAINTING: THE ‘WARE VRIJHEID' OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC WAS ONLY PROTECTED BY THE REPUBLICAN REGENTS OF AMSTERDAM. THE PAINTINGS BY GERARD DE LAIRESSE GLORIFY THE DE GRAEFF FAMILY'S ROLE AS PROTECTOR OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE, DE FENDER OF ‘FREEDOM’. THE WORK OF ART CAN BE VIEWED AS A VISUAL STATEMENT OPPOSING THE RETURN OF THE HOUSE OF ORANGE AS STADTHOLDERS OF HOLLAND. CORNELIS OLDER SON PIETER DE GRAEFF (1636-1707) BECAME MEMBER OF THE VROEDSCHAP, AND IN 1664, AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER, HE TOOK OVER HIS LEADING ROLE AS A CHIEF-ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY. DURING THE 1660S HE WAS ONE OF THE GUARDIANS FROM THE YOUNG PRINCE WILLIAM III OF ORANGE, THE LATER KING OF ENGLAND. PIETER WAS A BROTHER-IN-LAW OF JOHAN DE WITT AND ALSO HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND ADVISOR. AFTER KILLING OF DE WITT IN THE RAMPJAAR 1672 HE BECAME THE GUARDIAN OVER HIS FIVE CHILDREN. IN 1672, WHEN THE ORGANISTS TOOK POWER AGAIN, THE DE GRAEFFS LOST THEIR POSITIONS AS ONE OF THE KEY STATES PARTY FAMILIES. THE DUTCH HISTORIAN AND ARCHIVIST BAS DUDOK VAN HEEL SAID ABOUT THE POWER OF FAMILIES LIKE THAT OF DE GRAEFF: IN FLORENCE, FAMILIES LIKE BICKER AND DE GRAEFF WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCROWNED PRINCES.

A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE DE GRAEFF FAMILY WAS THE SPONSORSHIP OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE. THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMSTERDAM ART DURING THEIR REIGN IN THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE. CORNELIS AND ANDRIES ETABLISHED THE FAMILY TRADITION OF PATRONIZING ARTISTS. THEY WOULD CHIEFLY COMISSION WORKS FROM REMBRANDT, JACOB VAN RUISDAEL, PICKENOY, QUELLINUS, CASPAR NETSCHER, GERARD DE LAIRESSE AND JACOB JORDAENS. THEY WERE WELL KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PATRONS OF POETS AS WELL, FOR EXAMPLE TO JOOST VAN DEN VONDEL. IN 1660 THE DUTCH CITY REGENTS , ESPECIALLY THE BROTHERS CORNELIS AND ANDRIES DE GRAEFF ORGANIZED THE DUTCH GIFT TO KING CHARL II OF ENGLAND. THE COLLECTION WAS GIVEN TO HIM TO MARK HIS RETURN TO POWER IN THE ENGLISH RESTORATION. IT WAS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. THE GIFT WAS A COLLECTION OF 28 MOSTLY ITALIAN RENAISSANCE PAINTINGS AND 12 CLASSICAL SCULPTURES, ALONG WITH A YACHT, THE MARY, AND FURNITURE, WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO KING CHARLES II BY THE STATES-GENERAL OF THE NETHERLANDS IN 1660.

AFTER THE RAMPJAAR 1672, THE DE GRAEFF FAMILY WERE ONLY ABLE TO ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES TO A LIMITED EXTENT IN AMSTERDAM POLITICS. DURING THE 18TH CENTURY, THREE MORE FAMILY MEMBERS WHERE PART OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, NAMELY JOHAN DE GRAEFF (1673-1714), GERRIT DE GRAEFF (1711-1752) AND GERRIT II DE GRAEFF (1741-1811). DURING THE 19TH CENTURY HIS GRANDSON, THE MANUFACTURER GERRIT IV DE GRAEFF (1797–1870), WAS PART OF THE AMSTERDAM GOVERNMENT. IN THE LATER 19TH CENTURY, THE FAMILY HAD COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED FROM CITY POLITICS, AND THE HAGUE LINE HAD TAKEN OVER THE FAMILY'S POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LEADERSHIP. ONE OF GERRIT SONS, DIRK DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK (1833-1916), BECAME A DIPLOMAT, GENERALCONSUL AND DUTCH MINISTER RESIDENT IN JAPAN. HE PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THE MANY NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND VARIOUS WESTERN COUNTRIES. HE WAS ADVISOR TO EMPEROR MEIJI AND LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR A MODERN WESTERN DIPLOMACY IN JAPAN. IN 1885 DIRK RECEIVED THE NEW DUTCH NOBILITY WITH THE PREDICATE JONKHEER. ONE OF HIS SONS, ANDRIES CORNELIS DIRK DE GRAEFF (1872-1958), WAS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE DUTCH EAST INDIES, DUTCH AMBASSADOR TO TOKIO AND WASHINGTON, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE DUTCH EAST INDIES AND DUTCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THIS NOBLE BRANCH STILL FLOURISHES TODAY, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER STILL EXISTED LINES OF THE FAMILY WHO BELONG TO THE DUTCH PATRICIATE. IN THE PRESENT, THE DE GRAEFF FAMILY HAD CLOSER TIES TO THE DUTCH ROYAL FAMILY ORANJE, DIRK GEORG DE GRAEFF (1905-1986) AND JAN JAAP DE GRAEFF (BORN 1949) WERE BOTH CHAMBERLAINS TO FOUR MONARCHS, WILHELMINA, JULIANA, BEATRIX AND WILLEN-ALEXANDER OF THE NETHERLANDS.

DIPLOM (IMPERIAL KNIGHT IN THE ORDER OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE) BY HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR LEOPOLD I LOANED TO MR ANDRIES DE GRAEFF, VIENNA, JULY 19TH 1677:

"Fide digis itegur genealogistarum Amsteldamensium edocti testimoniis te Andream de Graeff [Andries de Graeff] non paternum solum ex pervetusta in Comitatu nostro Tyrolensi von Graben dicta familia originem ducere, qua olim per quendam ex ascendentibus tuis ejus nominis in Belgium traducta et in Petrum de Graeff [Pieter Graeff], abavum, Johannem [Jan Pietersz Graeff], proavum, Theodorum [Dirk Jansz Graeff], avum, ac tandem Jacobum [Jacob Dircksz de Graeff], patrem tuum, viros in civitate, Amstelodamensi continua serie consulatum scabinatus senatorii ordinis dignitabitus conspicuos et in publicum bene semper meritos propagata nobiliter et cum splendore inter suos se semper gessaerit interque alios honores praerogativasque nobilibus eo locorum proprias liberum venandi jus in Hollandia, Frisiaque occidentale ac Ultrajectina provinciis habuerit semper et exercuerit."

THE AUSTRIAN FAMILY GRAEF, GRÄF, GRÄFF DESCENDANT FROM CAROLU GRÄF(F) (BORN AROUND 1760 IN SAXONY, HRR), MEMBER OF AN EARLY DUTCH-GERMAN BASTARD-BRANCH OF THE GRAEFF FAMILY LOCATED IN ANCIENT PRUSSIA AND SAXONY. THE FAMILY AFTERWARDS SHOWED A LOWER SOCIAL RANK. THEY OWNS AN ORIGIN GRAEFF-GRABEN COAT OF ARMS FROM THE 17TH CENTURY. FAMILY SOURCES AND TRADITION STATED THAT THEY MAY DESCENDANT FROM ADRIAAN JACOBSZ GRAEFF, HISSELF KIND OF A BASTARD-OFFSPRING OF JACOB JANSZ GRAEFF (DIED AROUND 1580 IN AMSTERDAM), A YOUNGER BROTHER OF JAN DIRCKSZ GRAEFF (1532-1589), WHO BECAME  A MAYOR OF AMSTERDAM IN 1578. THE FAMILY NOW MOSTLY LIVE IN LOWER AUSTRIA AND VIENNA, BUT ALSO IN GREECE.

THE SOUTH-AFRICAN FAMILY DE GRAEFF ROOTED BACK TO AMSTERDAM BORN GERRIT ARNOLD THEODOOR DE GRAEFF (BORN 1831), OLDEST BROTHER OF JONKHEER DIRK DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK (1833-1916), DIPLOMAT AND DUTCH MINISTER-RESIDENT IN JAPAN. GERRIT ARNOLD THEODOOR WORKS AS A BUISNESMAN AND SECRETARY IN SOUTH-AFRICA.

COAT OF ARMS [LEFT) OF HERMAN OP DEN GRAEFF (1585-1642) FROM 1630. IT POSSIBLY SHOWS HIS NEW CREST AS HE MIGHT BE OF MORGANATIC BIRTH.

- SEE AT COAT OF ARMS

THE OP DEN GRAEFF'S WHERE MENNONITES AND LIVED AT ALDEKERK, A VILLAGE IN THE DUCHY OF CLEVES AT THE BORDER TO THE NETHERLANDS. ALDEKERK WAS A PLACE WITH A DUTCH POPULATION. HERMAN OP DEN GRAEFF (1585-1642) IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL REPORTED FAMILY MEMBER, WHOSE PATENTAGE IS CONSIDERED HISTORICALLY INDETERMINABLE. THERE ARE A LOT OF MYTHICAL AND LITERARY THEORIES AROUND HIS ORIGIN, SO THAT HE ORIGINATES FROM A MORGANATIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIS CLAIMED MOTHER ANNA OP DEN GRAEFF (VAN DE ALDEKERK; 1557-1613) AND A PERSON OF HIGH RANK OR ALSO THE HERREN VON GRABEN. IN ALDEKERK HERMAN WORKED AS A LINEN WEAVER AND MERCHANT, AND IN 1605 HE REMOVED TO KEMPEN WHERE HE GOT MARRIED, AND AROUND 1609 THE COUPLE IMMIGRATED TO KREFELD. HERMAN BECAME A MENNONITE COMMUNITY LEADER. IN 1632 HE WAS TOGETHER WITH WILHELM KREYNEN  KREFELDS MENNONITE CHURCH DELEGATE TO SIGN THE DORDRECHT CONFESSION OF FAITH. IN 1637 HERMAN WAS CALLED THE "MENNONITE LORD-BISCHOP OF KREFELD" ('DER HIESIGEN MENNONITEN HERR BISCHOF') [ALTHOUGH THE MENNONITES HAD NO BISHOPS]. IT SEEMS THAT HE HAD A STRONG RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE ON HIS DESCENDANTS THROUGH HIS WORK.

IN 1683 SOME OP DEN GRAEFF MEMBERS MIGRATED FROM KREFELD TO NORTH AMERICA. ABRAHAM OP DEN GRAEFF (1649-1731), ONE OF THE THREE SONS OF ISAAC HERMANSZ OP DEN GRAEFF AND GRANDSON OF HERMAN, WAS INVITED BY HIS SECOND COUSIN WILLIAM PENN [FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA, FIRST GOUVERNEUR] TO LEAVE KREFELD FOR PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. THE THREE BROTHERS OP DEN GRAEFF, DERICK (DIRK) ISAACS, HERMAN ISACKS AND ABRAHAM ISAACS, ARE AMONG THE THIRTEEN FAMILIES ("ORIGINAL 13") OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE GERMAN TOWN, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDERS, WHO ARRIVED ON THE SHIP CONCORD ON OCTOBER 6, 1683. IN 1688 DERICK ISACKS AND ABRAHAM ISACKS OP DEN GRAEFF BELONGED TO THE SIGNERS OF THE FIRST ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY IN [BRITISH] COLONIAL AMERICA.

LATER ON THE FAMILY SURNAME WERE CHANGED TO UPDEGRAFF AT SOME POINT EITHER UPON THEIR ARRIVAL TO PHILADELPHIA OR SHORTLY THERE AFTER. ANOTHER US BRANCH OF THE OP DEN GRAEFF FAMILY, THE UPDEGROVE, DESCENDANT FROM ONE JOHN WILLIAM OP DEN GRAEFF (1732-1800/1804). THIS BRANCH ARRIVED FROM KREFELD TO GERMANTOWN AROUND 1754. AS A WHOLE, IN THE STATES THE FAMILY SPLIT UP IN MORE BRANCHES LIKE UPDEGRAFF, UPDEGROVE, UPDEGRAPH, UPTHEGROVE ETC. A MAJORITY OF THEIR DESCENDANTS CONVERTED FROM THE MENNONITE FAITH TO QUAKERISM. THE FAMILY WAS FREQUENTLY INVOLVED IN TRADE AND AGRICULTURE DURING THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES. BY THE BEGINNING OF THE 19TH CENTURY, FAMILY MEMBERS PERFORMED VARIOUS FUNCTIONS AS QUAKER MINISTERS AND CONGRESS MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF THE UPDEGRAFF BRANCH WHERE DEEPLY INVLOED AS QUAKER LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS IN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP AND ANTI SLAVERY PROGRESS DURING THE 19TH CENTURY. NATHAN UPDEGRAFF (1750-1827), WAS A CO-FOUNDER AND DELEGATE TO THE OHIO CONSTITUTION. HIS SON DAVID BENJAMIN UPDEGRAFF (1789–1864), A QUAKER MINISTER (FRIENDS CHURCH) HELPED TO ETABLISHED THE "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD", A NETWORKS OF SECRET ROUTES AND SAFE HOUSES ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE EARLY -TO MID-19TH CENTURY. IT WAS USED BY ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICAN PRIMARILY TO ESCAPE INTO FREE STATES AND CANADA. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OUTSPOKEN ANTI-SLAVERY MEN, AND VOTED WITH THE FIRST LIBERTY PARTY FROM CONSCIENTIOUS CONVICTIONS. HIS HOUSE WAS THE HOME OF ANTI-SLAVERY ADVOCATES AND TEMPERANCE LECTURERS AND ALSO A STATION ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. HIS SONS WERE JONATHAN TAYLOR UPDEGRAFF (1822-1882), MEDICINE DOCTOR AND US REPRESENTATIVE FROM OHIO, MEMBER OF THE OHIO SENATE, AND DAVID BRAINARD UPDEGRAFF (1830–1894), MINISTER OF FRIENDS CHURCH (QUAKER MINISTER), AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INNOVATORS OF THIS RELIGIOUS CURRENT. ANOTHER MEMBER WAS THOMAS UPDEGRAFF (1834–1910), ATTORNEY, FIVE-TERM REPUBLIC AND MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM NORTHEASTERN IOWA. AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY WAS LAURA BEATRICE UPTHEGROVE (1896-1927), AN AMERICAN OUTLAW, BANK ROBBER, BOOTLEGGER AND OCCASIONAL PIRATE ACTIVE IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA, KNOWN AS "THE QUEEN OF THE EVERGLADES".

IN THE FURTHER 20TH CENTURY, THE FAMILY WAS MAINLY TO BE FOUND IN EDUCATIONAL OCCUPATIONS, AS SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS OR LAWYERS, BUT ALSO IN THE MILITARY SERVICE. NAMELY ED UPDEGRAFF (BORN 1922), US AMATEUR GOLFER AND UROLOGIST, MARK K. UPDEGROVE (BORN 1961), AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE LYNDON B[AINES] JOHNSON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, AS WELL AS DAVID UPTHEGROVE (GEBOREN 1971), MEMBER OF THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING THE 5TH DISTRICT AT THE WASHINGTON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE DESCENDANTS ARE STILL FLOURISHING ABUNDANTLY TODAY UNDER THE NAMES UPDEGRAFF, UPDEGROVE, UPDEGRAFF, UPDEGRAFF ETC. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DESCENDANTS OF THE UPDEGROVE BRANCH ALSO LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND.

THE US OFFSPRING GROVE OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS FAMILY GRAFF SAID THAT THEY BELONG TO THE GERMAN OP DEN GRAEFF FAMILY, BUT THIS CLAIM IS TOTALLY UNPROVEN. THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES THAT PLACE THE ORIGIN OF THE GRAFF FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND IN THE 14TH CENTURY. THE US FAMILY GROVE SAID THAT THEY DESCENDANT FROM AN ISAAC OP DEN GRAEFF VAN DE ALDEKERK (BORN AROUND 1525), CLAIMED SON OF THE CLAIMED OP DEN GRAEFF FAMILY PROGENITOR ABRAHAM OP DEN GRAEFF (1485-1561), HISSELF A CLAIMED SON OF WOLFGANG VON GRABEN (1465.1521). ISAAC WAS THE CLAIMED BROTHER OF HERMAN OP DEN GRAEFF VAN DE ALDEKERK (BORN 1520) FROM THE OP DEN GRAEFFS IN CLEVES, A FAMILY OF MENNONITES. HIS CLAIMED GRAFF-DESCENDANTS WHERE ALSO MENNONITES, AND LIVED IN SWITZERLAND UNTIL 1695, WHEN HANS GRAF(F) AND HIS BROTHERS FROM BÄRETSWIL ARRIVES TO PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES. THE FAMILY CHANGED THEIR NAME INTO GROFF AND LATER GROVE.

THERE COULD BE FOUND AN OLD FAMILY COAT OF ARMS OF THE GROBEN [MISSPELLING OF GRABEN] FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE VON GRABEN COAT OF ARMS, AS THE ALLEGED COAT OF ARMS OF THE OP DEN GRAEFF/GRAFF-ANCRESTORS AND OF THE GRAFF FAMILY ITSELF.

Hans Graf(f) (1661-1746) was born in Bäretswil, Switzerland, and during the persecution of the Mennonites in his native country, he with others fled to Alsace. Later he came to America and became in the new world a man of wealth and prominence. Hans Graf arrived in Pennsylvania about 1695 and emigrated to Germantown where he remained several years. Hans with other Mennonite families moved west and took up their abode on the northern side of Pequea Creek. It was not until 1717 however that pioneers found their way in to Earl Township, Lancaster County. This honor belongs to Hans Graf, for while in pursuit of his strayed horses, he found his way into what is familiarly known as Groff's Thal, within the limits of west Earl Township. Pleased with the country, he had his wife, children and chattels conveyed thither and located on the stream now called Graf's Run, where he soon took up land. He was the earliest settler in these townships, so also was he the wealthiest citizen at the time of his death in 1746.

This Hans Graf was a man of more than ordinary force of character; he was the principal person in the new settlement that sprung up around him, even to the time of his death his name frequently occurs in the Colonial Records; he was one of the persons named to lay out the King's High Road from Lancaster to Philadelphia in 1733. Along with many others he was naturalized on Oct. 14, 1720, in the third year of the reign of George the second. He had already built a mill prior to 1729 and when in that year the township was organized the citizens honored both themselves and him in giving his name 'Graf', in its English equivalent, Earl, to the new district. The foundation stones of the cabin he built in 1718 are yet to be seen in the barn yard of his lineal descendant, Levi W. Groff, who owns the residence on the old homestead. The survey of his land was made on October 4, 1718 and calls for 1150 acres; on the 28th of February 1724, he bought 250 acres from Martin Kendrick and Hans Herr, who had purchased 5,000 acres from Penn on 22nd of November, 1717. Under these two warrants there were surveyed to him, in a single tract on a branch of the Conestoga, 1419 acres on October 10, 1727, for which a deed was made to him by Thomas Penn on Nov. 18,1737. This deed after citing the circumstances of the survey, goes on and makes transfer "of all mines, minerals, quarries, meadows, marshes, etc. The price paid for this goodly tract of land was L 141, 180 and One English shilling quit rent for every one hundred acres, to be paid annually on every first of March in the city of Lancaster, Penn. Ascertaining in some way that his tract did not contain the full number of acres called for by his deed he asked for a re-survey, which was granted October 16, 1742, when 91 additional acres were given him as shortage. West Earl also boasts of having had within her bounds one of the first, perhaps the first Mill in Lancaster County, Penn. This stood on the south side of the Conestoga, right at the point where the Concalico unites with the stream. It was made a corner of Warwick Township when that district was organized in 1729, and only through that fact has its existence been preserved from utter oblivion. How long it was there prior to that date is unknown. An ancient deed covering this spot was also found and mentions it as a mill site and speaks of the mill race, but the mill had even then disappeared.

Hans Graf the first settler in these townships was the builder and owner of this early mill. Other evidence of Hans Graf: Rupp's Collection of Thirty Thousand Immigrants to Pennsylvania page 433 - "Hans Graf came to Germantown in 1696. Also Hans Graf was Naturalized October 14, 1729. His brother Martin Graf, was first constable.