Graves Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Graves Name Meaning: A patronymic variant of 'Grave'.Occupational from 'Greyve',denoted from middle English,meaning 'steward'. Also topographic,a variant of 'Grove'.

This may indicate somebody who lived near a 'grove' or 'thicket'.

Discover how your Graves ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Graves Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Graves family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 721
Agricultural Labourer 165
Labourer 69
Domestic Servant 44
Dress Maker 37
General Servant 31
House Keeper 28
Annuitant 23
Carpenter 22
Laundress 20
Servant 19
Farm Labourer 16
Farm Servant 15
General Servant Domestic 14
Shoe Maker 14
Charwoman 13
Gardener 13
Tailor 13
Plaiter 13
Retired Farmer 11
Cook 11
Servant Domestic 10
Farmer's Son 10
No Occupation 10
Agricultural Labourer Wife 9

Graves Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Greaves 86% 61,638
2 Groves 83% 55,517
3 Graves 100% 34,701
4 Grieves 71% 4,346
5 Greeves 71% 3,658
6 Greves 83% 2,031
7 Gervis 50% 1,055
8 Garvis 50% 704
9 Grooves 71% 535
10 Grives 83% 450
11 Greives 71% 269
12 Gravis 83% 191
13 Gervase 43% 163
14 Garves 67% 154

Did you know?

The surname Graves is the 3rd most popular variant of Greaves.

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