Surname Grage - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Grage: What does the surname Grage mean?
The surname Grage is derived from the Old German words 'graben', meaning ‘to dig’ or ‘to plow’. The name Grage was likely connected to people who owned or worked on the land—either as farmers or tradesmen. Due to the name's Germanic origin,Grage is primarily seen in places settled by German immigrants such as the United States, Canada, and countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The use of the Grage surname was widespread in the medieval period, as many people made their living off the land and took up practical trades related to farming and land ownership. Records of the Grage surname appear as early as the thirteenth century in Germany, and the descendants of those families and their offshoots can still be found there.
Grage is also a popular name amongst the Swiss, with the first mention of the name there found in records from the early fifteenth century. In the United States, the name was introduced by German and Swiss immigrants in the colonial period.
While there are variations of the Grage name, such as Greiff or Gref, they all trace back to the original German word ‘graben’. Today the surname Grage is still found in parts of Germany, Switzerland, and across America. It is a reminder of the hardworking people who kept the agrarian tradition alive and helped build the foundations of civilization.
Order DNA origin analysisGrage: Where does the name Grage come from?
The last name Grage is most commonly found in Germany and parts of Scandinavia. In Germany, the last name Grage dates back to at least the 13th century and occurs mostly in the north of the country. The name is derived from the old Germanic given name Grego, which in turn derived from the Latin Gregorius.
In Scandinavia, Grage is found primarily in Denmark, where it is the 4,087th most common surname. While it’s less commonplace in Norway and Sweden, it is still present there. It is speculated that the surname was brought to these regions by immigrants from Germany.
In the United States, Grage is a relatively uncommon last name. According to the 1990 US Census, the name was present in all of the United States. However, the greater concentration is in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where the name is ranked between 1,000 and 2,500 for those states.
Grage is also found in Canada, primarily in Ontario, where its rank is between 1,000 and 2,500.
Overall, Grage is a fairly uncommon surname today, even in parts of Europe where it is more prevalent. However, with immigration, it can now be found in locations around the world wherever Germanic names are present.
Variations of the surname Grage
Grage is an English surname with several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most commonly seen variants are Graige, Grayge, Gragg, Graggs, Graig, Graige, Grayg, Grayge, and Graigge.
Grage was first seen in England during the 13th Century, and has since been adopted by other countries around the world in differing variants. The original spelling of Grage came from Old English, from the Old English word grage, which means “precipitous”. It is thought to have been a nickname given to someone who lived near a sharp incline, or who had some other personality trait related to the word, such as being as sharp or precipitous.
The surname Grage can also be found in Ireland, where it is primarily seen as Graige. It is thought to have been brought to the region in the time of the Norman invasions, and has since become more popularized. In Scotland, the variant spellings Graggs and Graige are common, suggesting that it again likely migrated to the region with the Normans.
In the United States, the surname Grage is most often found as Grayge or Gragg. It has also been adopted by other countries around the world, including France, Germany, and Denmark, where the spelling is seen as Graigge.
Although some of these variants can be confusing, all spellings of Grage are related to an Old English surname, either through migration or adopted spelling.
Famous people with the name Grage
- Ruth Grage: German athlete who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.
- Jessica Grage: Swedish actress and director.
- Björn Grage: Former professional race car driver from Sweden.
- Ralf Grage: German professional football player.
- Martha Grage: Former German figure skater.
- Milan Grage: Croatian football midfielder.
- Willy Grage: German lawyer and politician.
- Lars Grage: Swedish actor.
- Daniëlle Grage: Dutch visual artist.
- Pia Grage: Former professional tennis player from Sweden.