UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "grame" meaning "wrath" or "anger".
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Grames surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Stockport and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grames is 115 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.3%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
115 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grames surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grames surname density by area, 1861 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 11 | #32,907 |
| 1911 | historical | 7 | #33,083 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Stockport, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Blidworth (incl. Haywood Oaks, Lindhurst) and Greenock. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Blidworth (incl. Haywood Oaks, Lindhurst) | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grames 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 Grames, 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 Grames surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grames 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, Grames 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 Grames is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grames, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRAMES has its origins in the Middle English word "gram," which means "angry" or "ill-tempered." It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone with a gruff or surly demeanor during the late 13th or early 14th century in the region of Yorkshire, England.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname GRAMES appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where one Robert Grame is listed as a resident of the village of Kirkby Malzeard. This suggests that the name had already become an established surname by the late 14th century.
Another early reference to the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire, dated 1437, which mentions a John Grame as a party to a land transaction. This document provides evidence of the variant spelling "Grame" being used during the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the GRAMES surname appears to have spread beyond Yorkshire, with records indicating individuals bearing the name in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire. One notable figure from this period was William Grames (1540-1592), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.
The GRAMES surname also has a long history in Scotland, where it is believed to have derived from the Norman French surname "Graeme" or "Graham." One of the earliest recorded Scottish bearers of the name was Sir William de Graham (c. 1200-1285), a prominent knight and landowner in Renfrewshire.
Over the centuries, the GRAMES surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:
1. Sir Richard Grames (c. 1460-1535), an English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. 2. John Grames (1579-1654), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham. 3. James Grames (1628-1701), a Scottish minister and academic who became the Principal of St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews. 4. Samuel Grames (1681-1743), an English playwright and poet best known for his tragedy "The Ambitious Stepmother." 5. Elizabeth Grames (1775-1828), an English writer and philanthropist who founded several schools and charitable institutions.
While the GRAMES surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since evolved into a proud family name with a rich history spanning multiple centuries and regions of the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grames 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. Wigtownshire leads with 8 Grames' recorded in 1881 and an index of 206.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wigtownshire | 8 | 206.19x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.71x |
| Durham | 4 | 4.60x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Sussex | 3 | 6.09x |
| Angus | 2 | 7.38x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 5.10x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.06x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkcolm in Wigtownshire leads with 8 Grames' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4210.53x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grames 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 Grames 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 Grames households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Draper Assistant | 1 |
| Lab Chem Wks | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Schoolkeeper (Service) | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Grames surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Grames a modern rank of #38,594.
A surname derived from the French word "grame" meaning "wrath" or "anger".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grames 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.