Surname Gratehouse - Meaning and Origin
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Gratehouse: What does the surname Gratehouse mean?
The last name Gratehouse is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have descended from a family of aristocrats who resided in a Middle Ages manor located near a grathouse. A grathouse was an enclosed space, usually made of wood, with a grated roof and walls that provided a safe place to house animals and stored goods.
The surname is believed to be derived from words meaning “town of the grathouse.” Over time, the surname was altered from gratehous to greathouse and eventually became Gratehouse. It's likely that the family was comprised of landed gentry, and the Gratehouse name signifies a kind of aristocracy that the family possessed.
The Gratehouse surname appears in many family histories around the world, suggesting that the family was known in different regions for centuries. It's possible that the family initially stayed in one location but then spread around after time. The Gratehouse name continues to hold a certain air of nobility due to its association to the Middle Ages and its aristocratic origins.
Order DNA origin analysisGratehouse: Where does the name Gratehouse come from?
The last name Gratehouse is not particularly common today, yet it has a long and distinguished history. It is found most prominently in Great Britain, although there are a few variants in other parts of the world. Records dating back to the 12th century are found mainly in West Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and later records also reference the surname in Somerset and South Wales.
The common ancestory amongst those families bearing this name is believed to be William de Gratehouse (c.1200 - c.1250), a Norman nobleman who arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname may also have its roots in what was known as a “gratehouse” – a structure of wrought or cast iron grates and bars designed to provide ventilation and light in mediaeval homes.
The contemporary distribution of the surname retains its concentration in Great Britain, particularly amongst the upper classes. It is also found in the US, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia. Canada also sees a modest number of Gratehouses, concentrated mainly in Ontario and Alberta. Overall, the surname remains rare, yet traditional amongst specific families of English and British ancestry and is not likely to see a major increase in prevalence any time soon.
Variations of the surname Gratehouse
The surname Gratehouse is an English variant of the Middle English name Gretehouses which derives from the Old English terms greot and hus meaning "great" and "house" respectively. Variants of the surname Gratehouse include Gretehouses, Grateshouse, Grateshows, Gratehows, and Gratehowes. Spellings such as Gatehouse, Gatorhouse, Gaterhouse, and Gatherhouse may have evolved from the Gratehouse spelling.
Many individuals in the United States with the surname Gratehouse have likely descended from German immigrants who may have Anglicized the surname Gratenhause to Gratehouse. Indeed, the surname Gratenhause (and its variants) is an occupational name derived from the German word grating, which referred to workers who constructed grates of various sizes and materials. Anglicizations of this surname include Gratenhous, Gratenhause, Greathouse, Grateshouse, and Grateshows.
Other related surnames include Greats, Greates, Grates, Treats, Greethouse, Grateshoos, Greathoos, Grathouse, and Grethers. It is also possible that some people with any of the aforementioned variants may have descended from Welsh ancestorse with the name Meredith, Maurice, or Meyrick. Additionally, some individuals with the Gratehouse surname may have become Anglicized versions of Dutch or Scandinavian surnames such as Groot, Grothaus, Grotwide, and Gridhausen.
Famous people with the name Gratehouse
- Pat Gratehouse: Pat is a former MLB pitcher who played 36 major league games over the course of three seasons, from 1993 to 1995.
- Will Gratehouse: Will is the current owner of a construction company specializing in historic renovations in the Los Angeles area.
- Craig Gratehouse: Craig is an actor best known for his roles in films like 13 Hours, Zodiac, and Dr. Strange.
- Haleigh Gratehouse: Haleigh is a professional dancer and choreographer who has been seen on television shows like Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing With The Stars.
- Natasha Gratehouse: Natasha is a fashion designer most recently seen on Project Runway. Her designs have been featured in Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.
- Bryan Gratehouse: Bryan is a professional NFL tight end for the San Diego Chargers, having been drafted in 2012.
- Charlie Gratehouse: Charlie is a visual artist whose work has been exhibited in many prominent galleries across the US, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum in New York City.
- Nicole Gratehouse: Nicole is an Emmy winning journalist for CNN who is widely known for her in-depth reporting on national and international news.
- Glenn Gratehouse: Glenn is an economist and well-known professor at Yale University who has written a number of books on economic theory.
- Sean Gratehouse: Sean is a highly successful businessman in the tech industry, having founded a number of companies and advising many high profile ones.