De Graeff
De Graeff (; also: De Graef, Graef, Graeff, Graaff, Graaf and De Graeff van Polsbroek) is an old Dutch patrician and noble family, The Amsterdam line of the family played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam and Holland public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672, and belonged to the Dutch States Party. During that time, members of the De Graeff family were also important patrons of art and artists such as Rembrandt, Govaert Flinck, Gerard ter Borch, Jacob van Ruisdael, Caspar Netscher, Gerard de Lairesse, Artus Quellinus and Joost van den Vondel. In 1677 they were made knights of the Holy Roman Empire. Since 1885 that line has been part of the Dutch nobility with the honorific of jonkheer. Origin According to a family tradition, the family descends from the Austrian Lords Von Graben. Allegedly one Wolfgang von Graben came 1476 to Holland [also named in 1483]. It is said that the family was founded by Pieter Graeff (born around 1450/1460) who may lived at the Amsterdam area. It was affirmed that the family de Graeff was formerly called von Graben, which was the Dutch spelling during the 14th and