Surname Grable - Meaning and Origin

Grable: What does the surname Grable mean?

The surname Grable is an occupational name originating from Germany and Switzerland during the 12th and 13th centuries. It is derived from the Old German word "grabal", which means "to dig". This surname could indicate someone whose profession was in the business of digging, though its exact meaning has evolved over time.

The Grable surname was popularized in England by a family who had come over from Germany. It was also embraced by families of German descent living in the United States.

In the United States, the name Grable is most associated with the legendary actress and singer, Judy Garland. She was born Frances Gumm, but changed her name to Garland, her mother's maiden name, at the suggestion of show business director George Jessel when she was only 16. Grable is Garland's middle name, which she probably picked up from her father's side of the family.

Today, the Grable surname is commonly used to denote someone who is hardworking, as it reflects the type of work associated with it. It is also often used in the media to portray people with a "ruggedly handsome" look, like that of Judy Garland's.

Grable: Where does the name Grable come from?

The last name Grable is found in different countries around the world today. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The states where the most Grables reside are Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

In the United Kingdom, the surname Grable is primarily found in Lancashire and Yorkshire. This is due to Grable being a name associated with English immigrants who settled in that region during the 1600s.

The Grable surname is also commonly found in countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and Israel, and it is more likely to appear in these countries due to the movement of immigrants from different countries.

In countries like Finland and Denmark, the Grable name is found less commonly because it is an uncommon name in these countries.

However, the last name Grable can also be found in other countries as people have spread to different parts of the world and settled in countries with immigrants, thus leading to the surname becoming more widespread.

Variations of the surname Grable

The surname Grable is of German origin and can have various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. The variant spellings include Grabel, Grafel, Graffel, Graffle, Grabels and Grabl.

Grable is derived from the Middle High German word ‘grabele’, which refers to a ‘clover-like weed’. It is believed that those who carried the Grable name may have originally come from places where this particular weed grew.

Another source suggests that the Grable surname may originate from a place name. This place name could have come from where those with the surname may have formerly lived or came from.

Various surnames of the same origin as Grable include Grabau, Grabbe, Grablich, Grabmueller, Grabs, Grach, Grabsch and Grabowski.

The spelling Grabau is derived from the Old High German word ‘grabau’ which means ‘babbling brook’. The other spellings Grabbe, Grablich and Grabmueller ultimately refer to someone who worked as a gravedigger. The surnames Grabs, Grach and Grabsch are derived from the German word ‘graben’, which means ‘a trench’ or ‘a ditch’. The name Grabowski is derived from the Polish word ‘grab’ meaning ‘tomb or ‘grave’.

Overall, the surname Grable has many variant spellings, surnames of the same origin and links to various places.

Famous people with the name Grable

• Betty Grable: Betty Grable was a popular singer and actress in the 1930s-50s. She was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable on December 18th, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her career in the late 1920s as a chorus girl on Broadway and eventually made the transition to Hollywood. During her time in Hollywood, she was considered one of the biggest stars of her era. She starred in a number of films throughout the 1940s, many of which became blockbuster hits. She was also well known for her lithe and attractive figure, which other famous actresses of the time eventually tried to imitate.
• George Grable: George Grable was a prominent Hollywood director in the 1950s and 1960s. Grable was born in Mineral Springs, Arkansas on October 26th, 1914. He began his career in the 1940s as a director at Republic Pictures. Throughout his work in Hollywood, he directed a number of classic films such as the musical Paint Your Wagon (1969) and the Western horror film Scorpion with Two Tails (1964). His work was praised for its ability to seamlessly blend comedy and drama in the same film. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Director, one for Paint Your Wagon and the other for The Brothers Karamazov (1958).
• Priscilla Grable: Priscilla Grable is a noted film producer in Hollywood. She was born on July 8th, 1956 in New York City to parents George and Madelyn Grable.Grable attended Harvard University and graduated with honors in economics and film. After graduating, she began her career as a production assistant at Disney and eventually made the transition to become an independent film producer. Her most notable works include the Golden Globe award-winning drama The Boys in the Band (1970) and the horror film Blind Terror (1976).

Other surnames

Grabl