De Graeff, also known as Graeff (De Graef, Graef, but also Graaff) and De Graeff van Polsbroek, is the name of a Dutch patrician and aristocratic family that still exists today. The family peaked in Amsterdam and Holland in the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age. Due clever tactics they become one of the most influential families in the Dutch Republic.
The wealth of the De Graeffs was based on commercial transactions and their marriage policy. In terms of their political commitment, they belonged to the Republican faction and were critica against the House of Orange. They were connected to the Bicker family through numerous marriage alliances. During the Golden Age, members of the De Graeff family were also important patrons of art.
The family lives in The Netherlands, South Africa and the German-speaking countries. In 1885 the Dutch main line was introduced in the new Dutch nobility. In 2013 the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff (Familienverband Gräff-Graeff e.V.) was founded for the claimed Graeff lineage of Wolfgang von Graben. The chairmanship and administration of the Family Association must not be confused with the function of a head of the whole family and their different branches.
Lineage (section): Wolfgang von Graben († 1521) Peter von Graben aka Pieter Graeff (* 1450/1460) → progenitor of "(De) Graeff" (Holland) Jan Pietersz Graeff (før 1512-1553) Lenaert Jansz de Graeff (1530/35-1578) Dirk Reynier de Graeff (named 1596) → alleged progenitor of "De Graaff" (Holland, Prussia) Dirck Jansz Graeff (1532-1589) Jacob Dircksz de Graeff (1570-1638) → progenitor of "De Graeff van Polsbroek" (Free Lords of Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam) Cornelis de Graeff (1599-1664) Pieter de Graeff (1638-1707) Johan de Graeff (1673-1714) Gerrit de Graeff (1711-1752) Gerrit II de Graeff (1741-1811) Gerrit III de Graeff (1766-1814) Gerrit IV de Graeff (1797-1870) Gerrit Arnold Theodoor de Graeff (1831–1889) → progenitor of a line in South Africa Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek (1833-1916) Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff (1872-1958) Andries de Graeff (1611-1678) Jacob Jansz Graeff († ca 1580) → progenitor of a Dutch line and an illegitimate line