NameCensus.

UK surname

Gravener

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived on or near a gravel pit or excavation.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Gravener surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, up from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Cornwall and Dartford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gravener is 204 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.2%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2010

204 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gravener had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gravener surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gravener surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gravener 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 198 #18,224
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 185 #19,212
2003 modern 173 #19,834
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 186 #20,576
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Graveners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Ealing, Chiswick, Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Cornwall, Dartford, Bolsover and East Northamptonshire. 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 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 008 St. Helens
2 Cornwall 032 Cornwall
3 Dartford 010 Dartford
4 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
5 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gravener

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gravener

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gravener surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gravener household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gravener is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gravener is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gravener falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gravener is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gravener

The surname Gravener is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "graven," which means "to carve" or "to engrave." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation, likely a stonemason or a woodcarver.

The earliest known record of the name Gravener can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a certain Robert le Gravenor is mentioned. This document, compiled during the reign of King Edward I, was a survey of landholdings across England and Wales. The variant spelling "Gravenor" indicates the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where a John Gravener is listed as a tenant. This provides evidence of the name's presence in the northern counties of England during this period.

A notable figure bearing the Gravener surname was Richard Gravener, a prominent merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century. Born around 1420 in London, he served as an alderman and Member of Parliament for the city. His wealth and influence within the mercantile community of London were substantial.

Another historical figure was William Gravener, a clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1520 and later became the Rector of Sutton-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, serving in that role from 1560 until his death in 1592.

In the 17th century, the Gravener name appears to have spread across various regions of England. One notable individual was John Gravener, a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire, who was born in 1635 and died in 1712. His estate, known as Gravener Manor, was located in the village of Naunton.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Thomas Gravener, a renowned architect and surveyor born in 1735 in Yorkshire. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including St. Peter's Church in Leeds and the York County Hospital. Gravener's architectural legacy left a lasting impact on the landscape of northern England.

Throughout the 19th century, the Gravener surname continued to be present across various parts of England. One significant figure was Edward Gravener, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, who lived from 1815 to 1887. He played a vital role in the development of the textile industry in the region and was known for his charitable works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gravener families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gravener 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. Kent leads with 36 Graveners recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.76x.

County Total Index
Kent 36 11.76x
Middlesex 18 2.01x
Suffolk 14 12.81x
Surrey 13 2.97x
Monmouthshire 4 6.17x
Norfolk 4 2.90x
Durham 2 0.75x
Leicestershire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buckland In Dover in Kent leads with 9 Graveners recorded in 1881 and an index of 891.09x.

Place Total Index
Buckland In Dover 9 891.09x
Somerleyton 9 5000.00x
St Pancras London 9 12.46x
Camberwell 8 13.95x
Newington In Elham 8 4705.88x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 219.44x
Hampstead London 6 42.92x
Hythe St Leonard 5 462.96x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 134.77x
Aberystruth 4 69.93x
Newington 4 12.07x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 101.35x
Mile End Old Town London 3 15.71x
Bishop Middleham 2 1428.57x
Great Mongeham 2 1428.57x
Reedham 2 769.23x
Deal 1 38.31x
Great Yarmouth 1 8.75x
Minster In Sheppey 1 19.72x
Norwich St Stephen 1 78.74x
Quorndon 1 178.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 5.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anges 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Phebe 1
Pricilla 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 7
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfd.G. 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Jas.C. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willie. 1

Top occupations

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 Gravener households.

FAQ

Gravener surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gravener surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Gravener surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gravener surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Gravener a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Gravener surname mean?

A topographic surname denoting someone who lived on or near a gravel pit or excavation.

What does the Gravener map show?

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