NameCensus.

UK surname

Grave

A surname derived from the French word 'grave', meaning a sandy beach or border along a river.

In the 1881 census there were 428 people recorded with the Grave surname, ranking it #7,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 256, ranked #16,534, down from #7,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Burgh, South and Crosthwaite. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, South Lakeland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grave is 482 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.2%.

1881 census count

428

Ranked #7,587

Modern count

256

2016, ranked #16,534

Peak year

1861

482 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grave had 428 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016, ranked #16,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 482 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Grave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grave 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 447 #5,511
1861 historical 482 #5,418
1881 historical 428 #7,587
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 443 #8,804
1911 historical 438 #8,684
1997 modern 265 #14,692
1998 modern 252 #15,584
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 256 #16,145
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 249 #16,572
2013 modern 258 #16,421
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 264 #16,186
2016 modern 256 #16,534

Geography

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Where Graves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Burgh, South, Crosthwaite and Hawkshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, South Lakeland, County Durham and South Somerset. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Burgh, South Norfolk
3 Crosthwaite Cumberland
4 Hawkshead Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
2 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
3 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
4 County Durham 065 County Durham
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grave

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Grave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Grave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Grave is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grave is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grave falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grave 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 Grave, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grave

The surname GRAVE is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. This name is derived from the Old English word "graef," which means a small wood or grove. It is believed that the first individuals with this surname were likely dwellers or workers in such wooded areas.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GRAVE can be found in various medieval records and documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, there are entries for individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "de la Grave" and "atte Grave."

One of the earliest known bearers of the GRAVE surname was John de la Grave, who lived in Somerset, England, during the 13th century. Records show that he held land and property in the village of Grave, which likely contributed to the adoption of the surname.

Over the centuries, the GRAVE surname has been associated with various notable figures. Sir Thomas Grave (1518-1577) was an English merchant and diplomat who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1569. Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Grave (1677-1753), an English engraver and printmaker known for his intricate landscapes and architectural scenes.

In the literary world, the GRAVE surname is perhaps most famously associated with Robert Graves (1895-1985), the celebrated English poet, novelist, and scholar. He is best known for his historical novels, such as "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God," as well as his autobiographical works, including "Goodbye to All That."

Another notable figure with the GRAVE surname was Samuel Grave (1638-1689), an English physician and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of botany and was one of the earliest members of the Royal Society, a prestigious scientific organization in England.

While the GRAVE surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, due to migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grave 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. Cumberland leads with 125 Graves recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.61x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 125 34.61x
Middlesex 64 1.53x
Lancashire 61 1.23x
Norfolk 31 4.81x
Essex 20 2.42x
Sussex 19 2.69x
Durham 18 1.44x
Surrey 17 0.83x
Yorkshire 16 0.38x
Cheshire 11 1.19x
Buckinghamshire 9 3.55x
Derbyshire 9 1.37x
Gloucestershire 7 0.85x
Berkshire 6 1.91x
Kent 6 0.42x
Angus 2 0.51x
Hampshire 2 0.23x
Lincolnshire 2 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 2.00x
Shropshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cockermouth in Cumberland leads with 34 Graves recorded in 1881 and an index of 447.37x.

Place Total Index
Cockermouth 34 447.37x
Southburgh 21 4565.22x
Keswick 13 281.39x
Habergham Eaves 12 26.38x
Gilcrux 11 1486.49x
Wadsworth 11 162.48x
Hove 10 32.23x
Whinfell 10 5882.35x
Above Derwent 9 671.64x
Birkenhead 9 12.19x
Coundon 9 177.87x
Datchet 9 520.23x
Heage 9 259.37x
Bothel Threapland 8 1428.57x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 10.12x
Great Baddow 8 272.11x
Heybridge 8 331.95x
Whitehaven 8 41.56x
Bermondsey 7 5.61x
Brighton 7 4.91x
Fakenham 7 220.13x
Gosforth 7 397.73x
Hulme 7 6.74x
Shotton 7 226.54x
St Pancras London 7 2.07x
Awre 6 355.03x
Barrowford Booth 6 108.89x
Islington London 6 1.48x
Layton With Warbreck 6 32.86x
Aspatria 5 144.09x
Edmonton 5 14.79x
Egham 5 39.84x
Hackney London 5 2.13x
Salford 5 3.42x
Westminster St John 5 9.79x
Barrow In Furness 4 5.91x
Chelmsford 4 28.15x
Crosscanonby 4 33.50x
Deal 4 32.76x
Hampstead London 4 6.12x
Manningham 4 7.81x
Paddington London 4 2.59x
St George In East London 4 10.14x
Westminster St James 4 9.28x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.65x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 3 120.00x
Eskdale Wasdale 3 389.61x
Newton 3 7.82x
St Olave Silver Street 3 2500.00x
Toxteth Park 3 1.78x
Winkfield 3 57.47x
Bromley London 2 2.17x
Church Coniston 2 142.86x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.74x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 2 115.61x
Hillingdon 2 14.96x
Nether Denton 2 434.78x
New Windsor 2 18.90x
Newington 2 1.29x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.37x
St Giles In Fields London 2 9.72x
Tannadice 2 110.50x
Tonbridge 2 3.87x
Tottenham 2 2.99x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.93x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.01x
Dunham Massey 1 35.21x
Eaglesfield 1 270.27x
Eastbourne 1 3.07x
Glanford Brigg 1 41.84x
Hawley 1 61.73x
Itchingfield 1 161.29x
Low Bolton 1 108.70x
Maker 1 22.78x
Manchester 1 0.45x
Norwich St Peter 1 23.64x
Royal Navy 1 2.34x
Seaton 1 23.75x
Uxbridge 1 20.88x
Whitchurch 1 14.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 18
Jane 11
Annie 10
Ellen 8
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Maria 6
Martha 6
Ann 5
Edith 5
Frances 4
Kate 4
Ruth 4
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Margreat 2
Matilda 2
Rachael 2
Sophia 2
Constance 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
Ella 1
Ellenor 1
Enid 1
Hellen 1
Isabel 1
Jeanneth 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Zilian 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 23
Joseph 15
George 13
James 9
Charles 7
Robert 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 5
Ernest 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Jonathan 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Fletcher 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Fredk 2
Henry 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Peat 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Austin 1
Ben 1
Bernard 1
Christopher 1
Cuming 1
Douglas 1
Edwin 1
F.C. 1
Foster 1
Frank 1
Fredck. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Norris 1
Richd. 1
Simion 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Grave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 428 people were recorded with the Grave surname. That placed it at #7,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016. That gives Grave a modern rank of #16,534.

What does the Grave surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word 'grave', meaning a sandy beach or border along a river.

What does the Grave map show?

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