grof

Grof is primarily a surname of Hungarian origin. The native word gróf designates the noble title “count” in the historical Kingdom of Hungary. In English-language texts the diacritic is often dropped, producing Grof as a surname or transliteration of gróf. The title was used from medieval times until the mid-20th century, and its use declined after the abolition of noble privileges in 1947.

Notable people with the surname Grof include Stanislav Grof, a Czech psychiatrist born in 1931 who is a founder of transpersonal psychology. He has contributed to methods for exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness and psychotherapy, including the development of holotropic breathwork. He co-authored LSD Psychotherapy with Christina Grof, documenting psychedelic-assisted approaches to therapy.

Christina Grof is a collaborator and writer who has contributed to works on psychological and spiritual topics, including co-authorship of LSD Psychotherapy. The Grof surname is thus associated with prominent figures in psychology and psychedelic research, among other contexts.

In addition to its use as a surname, gróf remains the Hungarian term for the noble title “count,” appearing in historical documents, genealogies, and heraldic contexts. Today the word is mainly encountered in historical references or ceremonial usage, reflecting Hungary’s aristocratic past.