Surname Gratny - Meaning and Origin

Gratny: What does the surname Gratny mean?

The last name Gratny is a Polish surname, derived from the Slavic word "gratny," which translates to "grateful." This indicates that the original bearer of the name was someone who was appreciated or thanked for something.

The earliest instances of this surname can be found in records from as far back as the 16th century, when documents show noble families in the Lubusz land region of Poland being referred to as “Gratny.”

The surname itself remains relatively uncommon, particularly outside of Poland, and those who do bear it are typically descended from Polish families, many of whom have retained the name in one form or another, such as Granatny, Grentny, or Grattny.

Although the precise meaning of the name is unclear, the underlying theme of appreciation and gratitude is commonly applied to those who bear the name Gratny. Descendants of the original bearer may experience a feeling of connectedness when it comes to their past or heritage, given the long and distinguished history of the Gratny name.

Finally, it is worth noting that Gratny is often interpreted in a manner that relates to both giving and receiving thanks – a trait that could be attributed to any proud family bearing the name.

Gratny: Where does the name Gratny come from?

The last name Gratny is found predominantly in Poland, as well as spreading to other parts of Central Europe. It can also be found in countries to which Polish people have emigrated over the years, such as the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia.

Surnames that end in “-ny” were derived from a Slavic naming convention and are believed to mean “descendant of.” It is believed that the Gratny surname began with the patronymic of Grat, a given name in eastern Poland, and which is still found in certain surnames today.

In Poland today, census records indicate that Gratny is one of the top 4000 most common surnames. In the United States, the most popular states to find the Gratny surname are Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and Michigan.

The Gratny surname in the United States is most heavily found in Chicago, where a large Polish-American population lives. In 2012, it was estimated that Chicago was home to almost one million people of Polish descent, making it the most populous US city with a significant Polish population.

In total, the Gratny surname is common to people of Polish descent all over the world, and there are likely countless more who have adopted the name as their own. Its traditional roots, however, remain within the borders of Poland.

Variations of the surname Gratny

The surname Gratny has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. They are as follows: Gritny, Gritney, Gritany, Grentny, Gratney, Gratny, Graitny, Graitney, Graitany, Greiteny, Greitany, Greitny, Graetny, Graetney, Graetany, and Gratnie.

The surname is derived from the Middle English word 'grate' which means 'grace'. Grattny is said to be either an occupational name for someone who performed religious ceremonies such as a priest or a given name which came from the Middle English word 'grace'.

According to some records, Gratny is an Americanized form of the Polish Jewish surname Gratny. This is based on the Yiddish version of the name, which is Grateny.

Furthermore, spelling variations of Gratny include the Greek form Gratmy, the Italian form Grattoni and the Maltese form Gratini. It should be noted, however, that these variations could also be a result of other influences.

In Scotland, Gratny is a variant used by the Strathclyde-Briton people which is an Anglo-Celtic language, and is also used in Ireland as Graitney. In Ireland there is also a surname derived from the Gaelic name mac Greathnaigh.

In England, Gratny is an uncommon occupational surname derived from Old English. It is possible that the family either had a coat of arms dating back to the 14th century, or their ancestors first settled in County Cornwall in the 16th century.

Overall, the surname Gratny, has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The name is derived from Middle English, and has seen further Anglicization over the centuries due to immigration and colonization. Finally, the surname is rather uncommon in most areas, and can be found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, and even some parts of Greece, Italy and Malta.

Famous people with the name Gratny

• Jo Kwang-hee: Jo Kwang-hee is a South Korean singer, songwriter and television personality. He is most famous for being a member of boy band H.O.T and his solo career.
• Adam Gratny: Adam Gratny is a Polish ski jumper and Olympian. He has represented Poland in various international competitions, including the Winter Olympics.
• Juliusz Gratny: Juliusz Gratny was a distinguished Polish writer, poet, playwright and critic. He was considered a major figure in the early 20th-century Polish theatre and an innovator of the avant-garde theatre movement.
• Vilim Gratny: Vilim Gratny was a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia in the mid-1920s. He was one of the most important and influential Croatian politicians of the post-World War I period.
• Martha Gratny: Martha Gratny was a celebrated Croatian dancer, choreographer and actress. She founded one of the leading dance schools in Croatia and was the first choreographer to introduce modern dance to the country.
• Alice Gratny: Alice Gratny is a French actress and writer. She is best known for her roles in the films Stealing Beauty (1996) and Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001).
• Leonard Gratny: Leonard Gratny was an American sculptor, illustrator, educator, and author. He was the head of the Clemson University Art Department for 25 years and specialized in statues and monuments depicting famous historical figures.

Other surnames

Gratney