UK surname
A habitational name from a place called Craig or Graig in Scotland, Wales, or England.
In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Graig surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #22,745 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Markinch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Graig is 148 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.7%.
1881 census count
76
Ranked #22,745
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1891
148 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Graig surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Graig surname density by area, 1901 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 91 | #22,206 |
| 1881 | historical | 76 | #22,745 |
| 1891 | historical | 148 | #18,506 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 53 | #27,508 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 36 | #34,717 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Markinch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Inveresk | Edinburgh |
| 2 | Markinch | Fife |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Graig 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 Graig, 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 Graig surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Graig 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, Graig 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 Graig is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Graig, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRAIG is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word 'græg', meaning gray or gray-haired. It was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with gray hair or a grayish complexion.
The name is believed to have originated in the county of Northumberland in the northeast of England, where it was first recorded in the 13th century. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Gregg, Greig, and Graig.
One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list a Robert Grayg in Northumberland. The Subsidy Rolls of 1296 also mention a John Graig in the same county.
In the 14th century, the name began to spread across northern England, with notable bearers including William Graig, a merchant from York who was recorded in the city's Freeman Rolls in 1349.
The earliest known ancestor of the GRAIG family is believed to be Robert de Graig, a landowner in Northumberland who was mentioned in a deed dated 1376. His descendants later adopted the spelling GRAIG, which became the predominant form of the name.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Thomas Graig (1538-1598), a prominent English soldier and courtier who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He was knighted for his services during the Anglo-Spanish War and is considered one of the most distinguished bearers of the GRAIG surname.
Another notable figure was John Graig (1663-1732), a Scottish philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of calculus. His work, "Methodus incrementorum directa et inversa" (1668), laid the foundations for the development of integral calculus.
In the 18th century, the GRAIG surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire, where many families were engaged in agriculture and trade.
One of the most famous bearers of the name in the 19th century was Sir William Graig (1809-1885), a British entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Graig Trust, a charitable organization that supported education and social welfare initiatives.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Graig 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. Northumberland leads with 19 Graigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 19 | 17.70x |
| Midlothian | 16 | 16.55x |
| Renfrewshire | 12 | 21.46x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 3.43x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 9.66x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.35x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 3.70x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.93x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.28x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.50x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.92x |
| Ross-shire | 1 | 5.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elswick in Northumberland leads with 15 Graigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.03x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Elswick | 15 | 175.03x |
| Barony | 8 | 13.55x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 8 | 20.57x |
| Inveresk | 7 | 267.18x |
| Paisley High Church | 7 | 157.30x |
| Seaton | 6 | 833.33x |
| West Greenock | 5 | 49.80x |
| Longbenton | 4 | 87.91x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.85x |
| Monkton Prestwick | 2 | 377.36x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 7.17x |
| Chester St Bridget | 1 | 370.37x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 52.63x |
| Greencroft | 1 | 256.41x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 10.75x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 6.94x |
| Logie Wester | 1 | 277.78x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.72x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 17.18x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 17.79x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Graig 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 Graig 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 Graig households.
FAQ
In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Graig surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Graig a modern rank of #36,679.
A habitational name from a place called Craig or Graig in Scotland, Wales, or England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Graig 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.