La famiglia GREIF era un antichisimo e distinto casato Tirolese che si chiamavano i GREIFFEN di Caldoro. Essi portano nel loro scudo, diviso in quattro parti, un grifone rosso in campo d'oro che dimonstrano l'audacia ed il coraggio del nome, una striscia argentea in campo rosso con tre stelle d'oro e ornato di altre due strelle, dimostrano purezza e potere, lustro e alta sapienza. L'elmo aperto ed incoronato dimostrano la nobile discendenza. Le tre piume poste sul medesimo dimostrano ricchezza e superbia. La cupola dell'elmo, rosso argento azzurro e oro, e'simbolo di grandezza, nobile sentire, frivolita' e costanza.
Translation by Giancarlo Graiff:
The family GREIF was one of the oldest and most highly respected of Tirolean families and was called GREIFFEN of Caldaro. (Caldaro is a small village near Bolzano in north eastern Italy)
The Greiff people have their shield divided into four parts: a red griffon vulture in gold background, depicting the boldness and courage of the surname. A silvery strip in red background with three gold stars and adorned with two other stars, showing purity, power, luster and great wisdom. The helmet is open and the crown reveals the noble extraction. The three feathers on the helmet indicate riches and pride. The helmet's crown, of red, silver, blue and gold, symbolize greatness, nobility, frivolity and steadfastness.
The name Graiff has evolved. In ancient times our family name was Greiffen, then Greif, Greiff, then Graiff and/of Graif. This was part of the process of Italianization.
Some Graiff immigrants who settled in the USA changed the spelling of the name to Griff. There may be other variations unknown to us at this time. This was part of the process of Americanization.
We've found Graiff descendants in Canada. We've also found a Gryfe in Canada, with ancestoral heritage in Austria.
Some of the changes in the spelling of the family name may have occurred due to language barriers at the time of immigration. It was not uncommon for workers to write down what they "thought" they heard, changing the name for future generations. Our immigrant ancestors were not terribly assertive and quite likely went along with what was written.
One of our relatives, Dr. Andrea Graiff who lives in Cles, Italy has observed that all Graiff's share a common origin in the region. He also has observed whether the name is spelled with one 'f' or two, it is the same family line.
If you go back far enough with enough detail this is born out repeatedly.
While in Romeno in June of 2000, we visited the town cemetary.
Andrea pointed out one grave site where two brothers were buried. On the marker one of the brother's name was spelled 'Graiff' and the other 'Greiff'.
