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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2016
Origins Available: English, French
Where did the English Graves family come from? What is the English Graves family crest and coat of arms? When did the Graves family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Graves family history?The earliest origins of the name Graves date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the baptismal name Reeve where as a surname it refers to son of Reeve. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time. The surname Graves also referred to manager or overseer as an occupational surname.
Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Graves include Grieves, Grieve, Greve, Greves, Greeves, Greaves, Greave, Griveson, Greaveson, Greavson and many more.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Graves research. Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1379, 1784, 1600, 1612, 1676, 1602, 1652, 1st , 1608, 1680, 1605 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Graves History in all our PDF Extended History products.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Graves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.
Some of the Graves family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products.
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Graves or a variant listed above:
Graves Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Graves Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Graves Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Graves Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Graves Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Graves Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Graves Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Spes mea in Deo
Motto Translation: My hope is in God.
The Graves Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Graves Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 3 January 2016 at 17:19.