Grotefend

Grotefend is a German surname. It is most commonly associated with Georg Friedrich Grotefend, a German epigraphist and philologist of the early 19th century whose work contributed to the beginnings of cuneiform decipherment.

Georg Friedrich Grotefend (1775–1853) conducted foundational studies on cuneiform script, focusing on inscriptions from the Achaemenid period found at sites such as Persepolis and Behistun. He proposed that the signs could represent phonetic values and identified anchor points in the inscriptions, including the names of kings, which provided a basis for more systematic decipherment. His methods and initial conclusions helped lay the groundwork for later breakthroughs by subsequent scholars in Assyriology and the study of the ancient Near East. He is regarded as one of the early figures who initiated modern approaches to reading cuneiform.

Beyond this notable figure, the surname Grotefend is relatively uncommon and is mainly of German origin. In contemporary references, it may appear in genealogical or biographical contexts related to individuals who share the name but who are not widely known for major scholarly contributions. The name, however, remains associated in historical overviews with the development of cuneiform studies and the emergence of modern Assyriology.