Brief Life History of Christian
When Christian Graf was born on 26 October 1783, in Krattigen, Bern, Switzerland, his father, Johannes Graf, was 28 and his mother, Anna Gruenig, was 27. He married Christina Steudler on 11 February 1814, in Krattigen, Bern, Switzerland. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 4 daughters. He died on 23 February 1861, in Aeschi bei Spiez, Bern, Switzerland, at the age of 77, and was buried in Aeschi bei Spiez, Bern, Switzerland.
Photos and Memories (1)
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Family Time Line
Sources (7)
- Christen in entry for Johanes Sterchi, "Switzerland, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1418-1996"
- Christ in entry for Johannes Sterchi, "Switzerland, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1418-1996"
- Christ in entry for Johann Friedrich Bläuer, "Switzerland, Catholic and Lutheran Church Records, 1418-1996"
Spouse and Children
Children (8)
+3 More Children
Parents and Siblings
+2 More Children
World Events (4)
1798
Revolution in Switzerland. Farmers in occupied territories become free citizens. Centralistic parliamentary republic according to French model. Occupation by French troops and some battles of Napoleon vs. Austria and Russia in Switzerland.
1800
Switzerland is one of the first industrialized countries in Europe.
1848
New Federal Constitution combining elements of the U.S. constitution (Federal State with central and cantonal (state) governments and parliaments) and of French revolutionary tradition. The Principles of this constitution are still valid today.
Name Meaning
Some characteristic forenames: German Hans, Kurt, Otto, Erwin, Ernst, Fritz, Gerhard, Hermann, Horst, Manfred, Udo, Alois.
German (also Gräf): status name from Middle High German grāve, grābe, which was used as a title denoting various more or less aristocratic dignitaries and officials. In later times it became established as a title of nobility equivalent to the Romance count. The vocabulary word also denoted a variety of different minor local functionaries in different parts of Germany. In the Grand Duchy of Hesse, for example, it was used for the holder of the comparatively humble office of village headman (compare Mayer , Schulz , and Vogt ). The surname could have originated from any of these senses or be a metonymic occupational or status name for a servant or retainer of a count, or a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and graces. This surname is also found in many other European countries, for example in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia, often as a translation into German of the corresponding Hungarian and Slavic surnames Gróf and Grof . Compare Graef .
Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name selected, like Herzog and other words denoting titles, because of their aristocratic connotations.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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