NameCensus.

UK surname

Gracie

An English surname derived from the Latin "Gratia" meaning grace or favor.

In the 1881 census there were 635 people recorded with the Gracie surname, ranking it #5,588 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,300, ranked #4,607, up from #5,588 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Ashgill and Netherburn and Barlanark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gracie is 1,300 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.7%.

1881 census count

635

Ranked #5,588

Modern count

1,300

2016, ranked #4,607

Peak year

2016

1,300 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gracie had 635 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,588 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,300 in 2016, ranked #4,607.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 890 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gracie surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gracie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gracie surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gracie over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 392 #6,129
1861 historical 448 #5,777
1881 historical 635 #5,588
1891 historical 827 #4,909
1901 historical 890 #5,185
1911 historical 202 #14,871
1997 modern 1,162 #4,849
1998 modern 1,185 #4,934
1999 modern 1,202 #4,927
2000 modern 1,207 #4,877
2001 modern 1,159 #4,959
2002 modern 1,182 #4,960
2003 modern 1,142 #5,025
2004 modern 1,145 #5,017
2005 modern 1,161 #4,894
2006 modern 1,182 #4,835
2007 modern 1,186 #4,859
2008 modern 1,207 #4,819
2009 modern 1,229 #4,849
2010 modern 1,298 #4,710
2011 modern 1,275 #4,729
2012 modern 1,230 #4,814
2013 modern 1,247 #4,828
2014 modern 1,265 #4,802
2015 modern 1,283 #4,687
2016 modern 1,300 #4,607

Geography

Back to top

Where Gracies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Sanquhar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Ashgill and Netherburn, Barlanark, Annan East and Kilsyth East and Croy. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dumfries Dumfries
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Sanquhar Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
2 Ashgill and Netherburn South Lanarkshire
3 Barlanark Glasgow City
4 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
5 Kilsyth East and Croy North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gracie

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gracie surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gracie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gracie, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Gracie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gracie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gracie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gracie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gracie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gracie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gracie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gracie

The surname Gracie originated from the Norman French personal name Grace, which was derived from the Latin word gratia, meaning "grace" or "favor." This name was commonly bestowed upon children as a symbol of divine grace and favor. The Gracie surname can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland, where it was first recorded in the Renfrewshire region.

During the Middle Ages, the Gracie surname was prominent in various regions of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. It was associated with several noble families, including the Gracies of Kelvington, who were landowners in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gracie surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homages rendered to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. In this document, the name appears as "Grecy" and "Gracy."

In the 15th century, the Gracie family played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Sir John Gracie, a notable figure from this period, was knighted for his bravery in defending the town of Kilwinning against the English forces in 1489.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Gracie have achieved prominence. One such figure was William Gracie (1504-1573), a Scottish theologian and reformer who played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation. Another notable Gracie was Archibald Gracie (1755-1829), a Scottish-American merchant and real estate developer who founded the town of Gracie, New York.

In the realm of sports, the Gracie family from Brazil is renowned for their contributions to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos Gracie (1902-1994) and his brother Hélio Gracie (1913-2009) were instrumental in popularizing this martial art and establishing the Gracie Academy, which has produced numerous world-class fighters.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gracie include Dorothy Gracie (1921-2003), a British actress known for her roles in films and television shows, and Walter Gracie (1887-1953), a Scottish professional golfer who won the U.S. Open in 1923.

The Gracie surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with numerous notable figures across various fields, from theology and real estate to sports and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gracie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gracie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 138 Gracies recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.00x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 138 7.00x
Dumfriesshire 100 74.25x
Angus 52 9.21x
Ayrshire 50 10.96x
Lancashire 39 0.54x
Midlothian 35 4.29x
Wigtownshire 26 32.12x
Middlesex 17 0.28x
Stirlingshire 14 6.23x
Dunbartonshire 13 7.94x
Kirkcudbrightshire 13 14.73x
Argyllshire 11 6.48x
Cumberland 11 2.10x
Durham 11 0.61x
East Lothian 11 13.62x
Roxburghshire 11 9.96x
Surrey 10 0.34x
Renfrewshire 9 1.90x
Cheshire 8 0.59x
Staffordshire 8 0.39x
Yorkshire 7 0.12x
Oxfordshire 6 1.59x
Peeblesshire 5 17.43x
Devon 4 0.32x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.35x
Dorset 2 0.50x
Kent 2 0.10x
Kincardineshire 2 2.69x
Northumberland 2 0.22x
Banffshire 1 0.79x
Essex 1 0.08x
Fife 1 0.28x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 42 Gracies recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.61x.

Place Total Index
Govan 42 8.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 7.30x
Glasgow 24 6.86x
Sanguhar 23 1284.92x
Lesmahagow 22 105.52x
Kirkmichael 19 1067.42x
Dundee 17 8.06x
Kilmarnock 17 31.30x
Dumfries 14 105.34x
Dumbarton 13 57.02x
Forfar 13 42.51x
Liverpool 13 2.96x
Gladsmuir 11 305.56x
Wilton 11 90.76x
Kilsyth 10 69.74x
Kirkcolm 10 257.73x
Stevenston 10 84.10x
Barony 9 1.80x
Durrisdeer 9 389.61x
Morton 9 201.34x
New Cumnock 9 113.78x
Hetton Le Hole 8 34.80x
Lambeth 8 1.50x
Bothwell 7 13.09x
Carnwath 7 57.42x
Closeburn 7 222.93x
Dalton In Furness 7 25.07x
Kettins 7 370.37x
Tannadice 7 266.16x
Troqueer 7 60.45x
Edinburgh Old 6 120.97x
Oxford St Giles 6 33.41x
Stranraer 6 81.08x
Birkenhead 5 4.66x
Cambusnethan 5 11.42x
Crawford 5 135.87x
Douglas 5 88.03x
East Kilbride 5 59.24x
Everton 5 2.17x
Keir 5 320.51x
Stobo 5 500.00x
Straiton 5 193.05x
West Derby 5 2.36x
Ardnamurchan 4 46.46x
Barry 4 59.00x
Dalmellington 4 29.81x
Dunoon 4 114.61x
Leswalt 4 72.20x
Lochmaben 4 67.80x
Plymouth Charles The 4 7.15x
Polmont 4 48.19x
Rotherham 4 11.74x
Whitehaven 4 14.30x
Wolstanton 4 6.40x
Cleator 3 13.73x
Colinton 3 32.93x
Dalziel 3 14.14x
Erskine 3 87.46x
Gainford 3 160.43x
Hammersmith London 3 2.00x
Inch 3 38.02x
Kirkdale 3 2.47x
Liff Benvie 3 3.50x
Newabbey 3 158.73x
Shoreditch London 3 1.14x
St Cuthbert Within 3 49.34x
St George Martyr London 3 24.29x
Westminster St Margaret 3 10.20x
Abbey 2 2.77x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 1.70x
Annan 2 17.29x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 3.48x
Burslem 2 3.39x
Church 2 19.57x
Fetteresso 2 17.20x
Hoddam 2 61.54x
Kirkmahoe 2 76.63x
Old Luce 2 39.14x
Urr 2 17.42x
West Greenock 2 2.36x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gracie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Jane 5
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Isabella 3
Janet 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Alice 1
Catherin 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.M. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Jessey 1
Lewisa 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Lusia 1
Margret 1
Margt.S. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Rachel 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gracie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
Robert 9
James 8
William 7
Thomas 3
David 2
George 2
Henry 2
Adam 1
Alexanda 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Cyril 1
Edd.James 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Ricd. 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Gracie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gracie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 635 people were recorded with the Gracie surname. That placed it at #5,588 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gracie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,300 in 2016. That gives Gracie a modern rank of #4,607.

What does the Gracie surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Latin "Gratia" meaning grace or favor.

What does the Gracie map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gracie bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.