NameCensus.

UK surname

Graney

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'Grádaigh" meaning descendant of Grádach.

In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Graney surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 368, ranked #12,649, up from #14,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Alfreton and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Ashfield and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Graney is 391 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.2%.

1881 census count

171

Ranked #14,212

Modern count

368

2016, ranked #12,649

Peak year

1999

391 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Graney had 171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 368 in 2016, ranked #12,649.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Graney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Graney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Graney 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 171 #14,212
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 245 #13,298
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 363 #11,849
1998 modern 384 #11,727
1999 modern 391 #11,640
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 387 #11,713
2003 modern 362 #12,114
2004 modern 355 #12,326
2005 modern 348 #12,410
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 347 #12,661
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 366 #12,534
2010 modern 369 #12,726
2011 modern 359 #12,856
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 366 #12,823
2015 modern 371 #12,567
2016 modern 368 #12,649

Geography

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Where Graneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Alfreton, Liverpool, St Luke and Selston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Ashfield, St. Helens, County Durham and North East Derbyshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Manchester Lancashire
2 Alfreton Derbyshire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 St Luke London (Central Districts)
5 Selston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 010 Bolsover
2 Ashfield 008 Ashfield
3 St. Helens 016 St. Helens
4 County Durham 040 County Durham
5 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Graney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Graney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Graney, 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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Graney 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

Graney is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Graney falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Graney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Graney

The surname Graney has its roots in Ireland, originating from the Gaelic O'Greine, meaning 'descendant of Gréine'. The name Gréine itself is derived from the Old Irish word 'grían', meaning 'sun'. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century, where it was found in various Irish annals and manuscripts.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Donnchadh Ó Gréine, a prominent Irish cleric who lived in the late 12th century. He was noted for his scholarship and served as the Abbot of the renowned monastery at Clonmacnoise.

The Graney surname was particularly prevalent in counties Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, where the family held lands and wielded significant influence. In the 14th century, the Annals of Inisfallen mention a notable figure named Diarmaid Ó Gréine, who was a respected bard and historian.

During the 16th century, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as O'Greany, O'Greyny, and Grainy, as it adapted to the English language. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Tadhg Ó Gréine, a prominent Irish chieftain who played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Munster.

In the 17th century, the Graney surname spread to other parts of Ireland, particularly the counties of Clare and Galway. A notable figure from this period was Seán Ó Gréine, a renowned Irish harper and composer who was celebrated for his mastery of traditional Irish music.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent figure, Séamus Ó Gréine, a celebrated Irish poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and cultural significance.

Throughout history, the Graney surname has been borne by several notable individuals, including Patrick Graney (1798-1868), an Irish-American civil engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Erie Canal, and John Graney (1876-1944), a prominent American baseball player and manager who played for several Major League Baseball teams in the early 20th century.

The Graney surname continues to be widely used in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora around the world, serving as a testament to its rich historical roots and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Graney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Graney 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. Lancashire leads with 49 Graneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 49 2.54x
Middlesex 22 1.35x
Cheshire 14 3.89x
Derbyshire 13 5.10x
Durham 13 2.68x
Kent 11 1.98x
Nottinghamshire 11 5.01x
Staffordshire 9 1.64x
Gloucestershire 5 1.57x
Lanarkshire 4 0.76x
Northumberland 4 1.65x
Surrey 4 0.50x
Devon 2 0.59x
Essex 1 0.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.35x
Midlothian 1 0.46x
Sussex 1 0.36x
Warwickshire 1 0.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 13 Graneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.36x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 13 45.36x
Brandon Byshottles 13 214.17x
Alfreton 12 154.84x
Liverpool 12 10.22x
Everton 7 11.36x
Westleigh 7 159.45x
Greasley 6 121.21x
Shoreditch London 6 8.50x
Windle 6 55.15x
Bristol St George 5 33.83x
Greenwich 5 19.28x
Selston 5 204.08x
St Luke London 5 19.14x
Darlaston 4 52.63x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 90.70x
Govan 4 3.07x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 30.93x
Hulme 3 7.43x
Kingston On Thames 3 15.73x
Salford 3 5.28x
St George In East London 3 19.58x
Walsall Foreign 3 10.56x
Blackburn 2 3.89x
Byker 2 16.69x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 13.81x
St Clement Danes London 2 59.35x
Westminster St John 2 10.08x
Wolverhampton 2 4.73x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.37x
Aston 1 0.88x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 6.51x
Bradford 1 11.05x
Brighton 1 1.80x
Bromley London 1 2.79x
Camberwell 1 0.96x
Chelsea London 1 2.04x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.14x
Exeter St David 1 34.48x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 94.34x
Hougham 1 30.30x
Islington London 1 0.63x
Manchester 1 1.15x
Matlock 1 29.24x
Newchurch 1 6.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.83x
Poplar London 1 3.25x
Stayley 1 24.33x
Swansea Town 1 4.30x
Toxteth Park 1 1.53x
West Ham 1 1.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Ellen 9
Bridget 7
Eliza 4
Annie 3
Jane 3
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Margaret 2
Victoria 2
Ann 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Bridgett 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Johanna 1
John 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laugher 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Margt.Bessie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosanah 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 11
James 9
Patrick 9
Thomas 8
Joseph 6
Michael 6
Edward 4
Francis 4
Henry 3
Peter 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Frank 1
George 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Lawrence 1
Martin 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Graney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Graney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Graney surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Graney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 368 in 2016. That gives Graney a modern rank of #12,649.

What does the Graney surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'Grádaigh" meaning descendant of Grádach.

What does the Graney map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Graney 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.