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 964
Agricultural Labourer 146
General Labourer 48
Dress Maker 41
Domestic Servant 40
Annuitant 37
Labourer 36
General Servant Domestic 25
Farm Labourer 24
Farm Servant Indoor 23
Carpenter 21
Laundress 21
General Servant 19
No Occupation 19
Servant 16
Farmers Son 15
None 14
Tailor 14
Housemaid 13
Joiner 13
Clerk 12
Errand Boy 12
House Keeper 12
Farmers Daughter 12
Shoe Maker 11

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.

Search for the Graves family