Surname Greathouse - Meaning and Origin
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Decoding Ancestry with iGENEA DNA Testing: A Comprehensive Report on Understanding the Greathouse Surname
Following my DNA test at iGENEA, I have acquired a wider and deeper understanding of my ancestry, specifically in relation to the Greathouse surname. The process, inclusive of atDNA, Y-DNA, and mtDNA tests, provided me with a scientific pathway to my heritage, illustrating detailed images of my lineage through paternal and maternal lines.
Z. Greathouse
read moreGreathouse: What does the surname Greathouse mean?
The last name Greathouse is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and dates back to the 11th century. It likely derived from the words 'gret', meaning great, and 'hous', meaning house. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for a family who owned a particularly large house, prominent in their community.
The Greathouse family may have been landowners, lords of a manor, large farmers, or businessmen of some sort in the centuries after the name’s creation. In some cases, the name could have even been adopted from someone who worked for a large household, like a cook or a steward.
The Greathouse name is still fairly common in the United States today, especially in the areas of Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Those bearing the Greathouse name tend to come from a strong and proud background, descended from generations of determined and hard-working individuals. Interestingly, it often shows up in records of Quaker families from the colonial period, when the Greathouse name first started appearing in the United States.
At heart, the Greathouse family has always been deeply invested in creating a better life for their descendants and pursuing opportunities for lasting success and prosperity. This traditional spirit of determination and hard work persists even to this day in the hearts and minds of the Greathouse family and their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisGreathouse: Where does the name Greathouse come from?
The last name Greathouse is most commonly found today in the United States, especially in the Midwest and Southern states. The earliest Greathouse settlers arrived to America in the late 1600s, when William Greathouse immigrated from Europe to Pennsylvania.
Since then, the surname has spread across the country and can be found in all fifty states today. According to ancestry.com, the states with the most representation of the last name are Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.
The largest concentration of Greathouses is in the Appalachian region, but the surname can be found in just about every state. For example, Florida has more than 6,000 residents with the last name, many of whom can trace their lineage back to North and South Carolina.
The Greathouse surname is also quite common in Australia due to Europeans settlers emigrating in the 1700s, although most of the casual wear and accessories stores bearing the Greathouse name can be found in the U.S.
Fortunately, the Greathouse name lives on in the 21st century. With the power of the internet, those with the last name can connect with one another and share their stories of ancestors who came before them.
Variations of the surname Greathouse
The surname Greathouse has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Greatehouse, Greethouse, Greitens, Gratehouse, Greatshouse, Greaveshouse, Greathaus, Greiter, Gretehouse and Grethaus.
The surname Greatehouse is most commonly thought to be derived from the Middle English which would be Grethou, which means "lodgings near a quarry". It is thought to have come from around the Yorkshire area.
The spelling Greethouse is thought to be a phonetic spelling of Greathouse. It is most commonly found in records from the US Midwest to Ohio.
The surname Greatshouse is thought to be a variation of Greathouse. It is most commonly found in the US Midwest as well.
The surname Greaveshouse is thought to be a variation of Greathouse derived from a habitational name meaning "dweller at the gravel house". It is thought to have originated in Northumberland.
The surname Greathaus is thought to be a German variation of Greathouse. It is found in records from Germany.
The surname Greiter is thought to be a variation of Greathouse and is found in records from Southwest Germany.
The surname Gretehouse is thought to be a Middle English variation of Greathouse. It is found in records from Leicester.
The surname Grethaus is another German variation of Greathouse and is mostly found in records from Austria.
In summary, the surname Greathouse has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Greatehouse, Greethouse, Greitens, Gratehouse, Greatshouse, Greaveshouse, Greathaus, Greiter, Gretehouse and Grethaus. Each of these are found in different countries or regions and all are thought to be derived from the Middle English Grethou.
Famous people with the name Greathouse
- Mark Greathouse: ordained Presbyterian minister, served as a pastor for over twenty years.
- Corey Greathouse: former professional tennis player who won the All-American Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament in 1986.
- Luke Greathouse: actor who is known for his work in television and film, starring in comedies such as “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office.”
- Judicial Greathouse: singer/songwriter and Navy veteran who wrote the top-ten country single “I Don’t Mind Being Alone.”
- Elayne Greathouse: competitive ice skater and coach, representing the United States at the International Skating Union World Championships in 1984–85.
- Sarah Greathouse: author, lifestyle influencer, and travel vlogger who has filmed on all seven continents.
- Michael Greathouse: the former CEO of software company Autodesk who has held leadership positions at several highly-renowned firms.
- Chelsea Greathouse: award-winning television and film producer, most recently known for creating the hit show “Grey’s Anatomy.”
- Tucker Greathouse: furniture designer who crafts unique pieces from reclaimed materials.
- Donald Greathouse: retired Air Force Colonel who achieved the rank of Brigadier General upon his retirement in 2001.