UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "grān" meaning "grain" or "branch".
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Grahan surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Southend and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grahan is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.7%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
138 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grahan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grahan surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 138 | #16,365 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Southend, St Pancras, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Southend | Argyll |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grahan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grahan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Grahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Grahan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grahan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grahan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRAHAN is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "grànna," which means "ugly" or "unpleasant." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with an unattractive appearance or unpleasant demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GRAHAN appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a person named William Grahan is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during that time period.
In the 14th century, there are records of a place named Grahamsland near the town of Falkirk in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It is possible that this place name is connected to the surname GRAHAN, either as a location where people with that surname lived or as a place that influenced the name's evolution.
During the 16th century, a notable bearer of the GRAHAN surname was John Grahan, a Scottish Protestant reformer and writer who was born in 1538 and died in 1611. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and wrote several influential works on religious topics.
In the 17th century, another notable figure with the GRAHAN surname was James Grahan, who was born in 1649 and died in 1730. He was a Scottish mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar and his work on the calculation of eclipses.
The 18th century saw the birth of Dougal Grahan, a Scottish soldier and explorer who was born in 1724 and died in 1789. He is known for his travels and explorations in North America, where he documented the cultures and languages of various Native American tribes.
In the 19th century, a prominent bearer of the GRAHAN surname was Thomas Grahan, a Scottish author and journalist who was born in 1805 and died in 1869. He wrote several novels and worked as a journalist for various publications, contributing to the literary landscape of his time.
Another noteworthy figure with the GRAHAN surname was Charles Grahan, a Scottish architect who lived from 1833 to 1908. He designed several notable buildings in Scotland, including churches and public buildings, and his work contributed significantly to the architectural heritage of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grahan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 4 Grahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.74x |
| Dunbartonshire | 3 | 76.34x |
| Essex | 3 | 10.41x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 24.57x |
| Durham | 1 | 2.30x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bonhill in Dunbartonshire leads with 3 Grahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 476.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bonhill | 3 | 476.19x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 3 | 96.46x |
| West Ham | 3 | 47.10x |
| Ardnamurchan | 1 | 476.19x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 72.46x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 44.05x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 53.19x |
| Richmond | 1 | 100.00x |
| West Derby | 1 | 19.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Grahan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Late Wax Chandler | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Pianoforte Tuner | 1 |
| Servant(Dis) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Grahan surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Grahan a modern rank of #37,178.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "grān" meaning "grain" or "branch".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grahan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.