I took to wondering if my last name, Grob, meant anything. I found out that in German it means, “coarse,” but here are eight possible definitions for coarse:
composed of relatively large parts or particles: The beach had rough, coarse sand.
lacking in fineness or delicacy of texture, structure, etc.: The stiff, coarse fabric irritated her skin.
harsh; grating.
lacking delicacy, taste, or refinement; unpolished: He had coarse manners but an absolutely first-rate mind.
of inferior or faulty quality; common; base.
vulgar; obscene; crude: His coarse language angered us.
(of metals) unrefined.
(of a metal file) having the maximum commercial grade of coarseness.
Could someone tell me which one most nearly describes the German word, Grob?
Definitely meanings 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 all equally (but some are literal and some metaphorical, of course). It is cognate with the English “gruff”, by the way.
I asked my mum and she said as a surname it doesn´t have any specific connotation. But just as a writer might choose the name Grim to make some sort of point for a character, so to could Grob make a point, most probably as you said in the sense of coarse or rough.
Grob sounds like a good easy name to spell and say. I have seen and heard some German names I can’t even begin to figure out how to pronounce it or even be able to after hearing it. Ours is a simple German name thankfully. Now Polish or Italian names, If I have to try certain names, I just let them know I am going to refer to them as Smith.