Surname Gratney - Meaning and Origin

Gratney: What does the surname Gratney mean?

The last name Gratney is an Anglo-Saxon locational surname first found in Shropshire, England, where the Gratneys were originally believed to have been descended from a local family. The name is derived from a place in the county named Graveney, meaning 'gravel island' in Old English. It is believed that this location was originally an island, or low-lying land, in the marshy area of the Severn Valley.

The Gratneys of Shropshire held parcels of land in the area by 1373. This land subsequently was held by subsequent generations from the 1400s on. These families lived, farmed and some, by the 16th century, served as tenant farmers. Later still, some members of the family migrated north to Launceston in Cornwall, and east to London where some prosperous Gratneys established themselves in the fur trade and later the banking sector.

The Gratneys were known for their upright character and religious responsibility. Their faith was centred around the Church of England, of which some were prominent members in the community. This doubtless contributed to their strong grasp of the English language, which enabled them to be quite successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, especially during the industrial revolution.

In summary, the Gratney surname is derived from an old English place name, with its roots in Shropshire, England. It is associated with a determination and desire to be successful in business, combined with a strong moral character and strong religious faith. These traits have been reflected in the successful businesspeople who have long been associated with this name.

Gratney: Where does the name Gratney come from?

The last name Gratney is a fairly uncommon name due to its origin in the British Isles. The name likely has its roots in an old Norse word “grat” meaning “gravel” or “pebble.” This indicate it likely began as a descriptive name for a gravel-filled area. Today, the name is mostly found in North America and the United Kingdom, with a few cases in Australia.

In the United States, census records show that the name is most common in Texas. Texas has the highest concentration of Gratneys in the country with an estimated 2,000 people sharing the last name. It is also particularly common in West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee, though it is not as concentrated in those states. In the UK, the name is much rarer but is still found in some parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Although the name is not as widespread as it used to be, Gratney remains an interesting relic of a longstanding British tradition. It is a reminder of a time when many names were derived from that part of the world and were built upon the history of a unique place.

Variations of the surname Gratney

The surname Gratney is of English origin, derived from the name Grete, which is eventually from the Old French name Gautier. Gratney is a variant spelling of the surname Grautney and it has many other variants such as Grateney, Grautnae, Gratten, Greatney, Greatnie, Gratnae, Grateney, Greatnay, and Greatny. It may also appear with spelling variations such as Grattenie, Gratnay, Gratanay, Gratnay, Greatnoe, Gratnoe, or Gratney.

Some of the surnames that come from the root of Gratney are Grattan, Gratton, Gretton, Grawood, Gatewood, Gatewold, and Greatwood. There are many other derivations, some being more distant than others, such as Greatheed, Grath, Graut, Greyed, and Greetham.

The Grattan surname is derived from the Old French and affectionly referred to an attractive beloved one. The Gratton surname is derived from the Old English and means gritty or gritty-haired. The Gretton surname is derived from the Old English and refers to a Grett "thicket" or woodland; and Grawood is derived from the Old English for a “family of the grove or grove dwellers”.

The Gatewood surname, as well as Gatewold and Greatwood, is derived from the Old English for "dweller at the gatewood". This surname was typically found in the Midlands and north of England. The Greatheed surname is derived from the Old English and means "gory-wheat" or "dweller in the wheat-field". The Grath surname is from the Old English for "grassy clearing"; the Graut surname is from an Old English nickname for a person with yellowish hair; and the Greyed surname is derived from an Old English nickname for a person with grey hair. Finally, the Greetham surname is derived from the Old English and means "enclosure of the grove".

Famous people with the name Gratney

• Rob Gratney: Actor, director and writer.
• Robert Gratney: lawyer and judge.
• Greg Gratney: politician.
• Miriam Gratney: professional flutist and singer.
• Justin Gratney: professional skater.
• Ginger Gratney: professional chef and author.
• Scott Gratney: jazz drummer and composer.
• Cardell Gratney: professional saxophonist and music producer.
• William Gratney: professional photographer.
• Patrick Gratney: professional basketball player.
• Kathryn Gratney: professor of international relations and author.
• William Gratney Jr.: Olympic silver medalist in judo.
• Joseph Gratney: professional mixed martial arts fighter.
• Barbara Gratney: singer and songwriter.
• Gail Gratney: wife of civil rights leader, John Lewis.
• Shelly Gratney: professional cheerleader.
• Jaye Gratney: professional golfer.
• Ross Gratney: professional windsurfing champion.
• Jared Gratney: producer and engineer.
• Luis Gratney: professional snowboarder.

Other surnames

Gratny