Groff family
Encyclopedia
Originating in Bäretswil
, Switzerland
, the Groff family became during the early seventeenth century one of the founding families of both the United States
and what was later to become Canada
. The original German spellings of the family name are Graf as well as Graff and the Zürich
line, known in the area since the early 14th century, are a branch of the ancient rabbinical Graff
family. Forced to convert to Catholicism
in the early 14th century they became Anabaptists in 1560 and migrated from Switzerland to the area around Sinsheim
, Germany
around 1651.
The Groff family has largely remained an East Coast
family found both on the United States and Canadian sides of the border. A large number of notable Groffs have migrated back and forth between the two countries during the past two hundred years. The recognized seat of the U.S. Groff family is the area of southeastern Pennsylvania
. In Canada the Groff family is best known in the area around Markham, Ontario
. In both countries, the family has often comprised a formidable political and economic power and was instrumental in the founding of the Mennonite Church Canada
.
External links for Hans Groff:
.
Bäretswil
Bäretswil is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Bäretswil is first mentioned in 741 as Berofovilare. In 745 it was mentioned as Perolfeswilari.-Geography:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the Groff family became during the early seventeenth century one of the founding families of both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and what was later to become Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The original German spellings of the family name are Graf as well as Graff and the Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
line, known in the area since the early 14th century, are a branch of the ancient rabbinical Graff
Graff
Graff is the surname of:* Anton Graff , German painter* Gerald Graff, American professor* Hyrum Graff, character in Orson Scott Card's Ender books* Ilene Graff , American actress* Kasimir Graff , German astronomer...
family. Forced to convert to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in the early 14th century they became Anabaptists in 1560 and migrated from Switzerland to the area around Sinsheim
Sinsheim
Sinsheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the Rhine Neckar Area of the state Baden-Württemberg about 22 kilometers southeast of Heidelberg and about 28 kilometers northwest of Heilbronn in the district Rhein-Neckar. It consists of a city center and 11 suburbs with a total population of 35,605...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
around 1651.
The Groff family has largely remained an East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
family found both on the United States and Canadian sides of the border. A large number of notable Groffs have migrated back and forth between the two countries during the past two hundred years. The recognized seat of the U.S. Groff family is the area of southeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In Canada the Groff family is best known in the area around Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
. In both countries, the family has often comprised a formidable political and economic power and was instrumental in the founding of the Mennonite Church Canada
Mennonite Church Canada
Mennonite Church Canada is the conference of Mennonites in Canada, with head offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba.The first Mennonites in Canada arrived from Pennsylvania in 1786. The majority of the Mennonites that migrated to Canada over the next 150 years came directly from Europe...
.
Family tree
The following is an approximate tree of some of the members of the Groff family:- Jacob Groff (1751–1824), was a prominent PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
soldier of Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
- Ulysses Grant GroffUlysses Grant GroffUlysses Grant Groff was a large landowner and philanthropist noted for substantial donations to the City of Amherst, Massachusetts and to Amherst College....
(1865–1950), was a noted philanthropist who donated tracts of land to Amherst CollegeAmherst CollegeAmherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and the City of Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
-
- Charles Wister GroffCharles Wister GroffCharles Wister Groff was a renowned southern California real estate developer and philanthropist....
(1898–1987), a renowned real estate developer and philanthropist
- Charles Wister Groff
-
- Ulysses Grant Groff
Hans Groff
Hans Groff (1661–1746) founder of Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was the uncle of the father of Jacob Groff. He is believed to be the oldest known member of the Groff family in North America and the holder of the title Baron von Welden of Grafenwald Castle near Bäretswil, Switzerland.External links for Hans Groff:
- "A Biographical History of Lancaster County" (1872) by Alex. Harris pg. 237-239
- Hans Graf Family descendants
de Beauvoir / Beaver family connections
Susan Beaver (1826–1908) married John Groff (1819–1885) on October 11, 1848 and had eleven children, among them Ulysses Grant GroffUlysses Grant Groff
Ulysses Grant Groff was a large landowner and philanthropist noted for substantial donations to the City of Amherst, Massachusetts and to Amherst College....
.