NameCensus.

UK surname

Gravett

An English surname likely derived from the French place name "Gravette".

In the 1881 census there were 304 people recorded with the Gravett surname, ranking it #9,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 482, ranked #10,255, down from #9,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Frant and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Mole Valley and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gravett is 550 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.6%.

1881 census count

304

Ranked #9,637

Modern count

482

2016, ranked #10,255

Peak year

1999

550 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gravett had 304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016, ranked #10,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 515 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gravett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gravett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gravett 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 304 #9,637
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 515 #7,658
1997 modern 536 #8,837
1998 modern 532 #9,152
1999 modern 550 #8,984
2000 modern 538 #9,103
2001 modern 536 #8,979
2002 modern 542 #9,074
2003 modern 513 #9,314
2004 modern 509 #9,390
2005 modern 476 #9,783
2006 modern 477 #9,821
2007 modern 473 #9,965
2008 modern 457 #10,292
2009 modern 470 #10,324
2010 modern 490 #10,211
2011 modern 486 #10,168
2012 modern 488 #10,049
2013 modern 490 #10,176
2014 modern 496 #10,124
2015 modern 488 #10,182
2016 modern 482 #10,255

Geography

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Where Gravetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Frant, London parishes, Battersea and Keymer, North & South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Mole Valley, County Durham, Northumberland and Brighton and Hove. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 Frant Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Keymer, North & South Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 004 Lewes
2 Mole Valley 011 Mole Valley
3 County Durham 039 County Durham
4 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
5 Brighton and Hove 005 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gravett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gravett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gravett, 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 Gravett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gravett 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gravett 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

Gravett 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

Gravett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gravett

The surname Gravett originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "grave," which means a small creek or stream. This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near such a geographical feature or were employed in some capacity related to waterways.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de la Grave in Oxfordshire. The prefix "de la" indicates the name was initially a locational surname, referring to a specific place. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Gravett.

In the late 13th century, a William de la Grave was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire. This document recorded individuals who paid taxes to the crown, indicating that the Gravett family held some prominence and wealth during this period.

The Domesday Book, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Gravett. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the surname's development, such as Graveney in Kent and Gravestock in Shropshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Gravett include:

1. John Gravett (c. 1555 - 1628), an English composer and organist who served at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. 2. Samuel Gravett (1638 - 1701), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury. 3. William Gravett (1805 - 1871), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. 4. Mary Gravett (1822 - 1905), an English artist and painter known for her portraits and landscape works. 5. Christopher Gravett (b. 1957), a British author and military historian who has written extensively on medieval warfare and weaponry.

While the Gravett surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. The name's evolution reflects the influence of both locational and occupational origins, and it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, soldiers, and politicians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gravett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gravett 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. Sussex leads with 182 Gravetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.40x.

County Total Index
Sussex 182 36.40x
Surrey 40 2.77x
Middlesex 32 1.08x
Kent 31 3.06x
Hampshire 10 1.65x
Channel Islands 3 3.41x
Pembrokeshire 3 3.18x
Somerset 2 0.42x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 40 Gravetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.66x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 40 39.66x
Broadwater 24 209.24x
Battersea 15 13.75x
Horsham 12 123.58x
Frant 11 310.73x
Eastbourne 10 43.46x
Keymer 10 283.29x
Hailsham 9 297.03x
Shoreditch London 9 7.00x
Hammersmith London 8 10.95x
New Shoreham 8 266.67x
Billingshurst 7 426.83x
Deptford St Nicholas 7 87.17x
Fetcham 7 1458.33x
Hellingly 7 419.16x
New Romney 7 673.08x
Preston 7 80.18x
Ardingly 6 377.36x
Clerkenwell London 6 8.57x
Lower Beeding 6 451.13x
Rudgwick 6 526.32x
Bromley 5 32.43x
Dorking 5 51.55x
Sompting 5 724.64x
Southampton St Mary 4 10.47x
Camberwell 3 1.58x
Capel 3 220.59x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.84x
Greenwich 3 6.35x
Pembroke St Mary 3 24.71x
Shadwell London 3 36.14x
St Peter Port 3 18.45x
Willingdon 3 236.22x
Aldershot 2 9.82x
Bromley London 2 3.07x
Ewhurst 2 222.22x
Hove 2 9.12x
Mottisfont 2 377.36x
Patching 2 714.29x
Tonbridge 2 5.48x
Walcot 2 7.87x
Westminster St Margaret 2 13.99x
Cheriton 1 24.27x
Croydon 1 1.25x
Dover Castle 1 136.99x
East Clandon 1 357.14x
East Grinstead 1 14.12x
Edgbaston 1 4.31x
Fernhurst 1 90.09x
Hampstead London 1 2.17x
Hastings St Mary 1 8.04x
Kirdford 1 57.47x
Lewes St John Under 1 147.06x
Little Horsted 1 333.33x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.97x
Newington 1 0.91x
Nursling 1 103.09x
Nuthurst 1 120.48x
Putney 1 7.40x
Ryde 1 7.66x
Shalford 1 62.50x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Woolwich 1 2.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Ann 6
Ellen 6
Florence 6
Alice 5
Fanny 5
Harriett 5
Margaret 5
Caroline 4
Jane 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Esther 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Augnes 1
Bess 1
Charlotte 1
Doretia 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Helena 1
Hilder 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Margareth 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Naomi 1
Nelly 1
Norah 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 19
William 14
James 13
John 12
Charles 11
Richard 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
Robert 6
Albert 5
Henry 5
Frank 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harry 2
Mathew 2
Morris 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alfd.A. 1
Arthur 1
Chares 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Morton 1
Samson 1
Stephen 1
Theophilus 1
Thos. 1
Urban 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Gravett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gravett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 304 people were recorded with the Gravett surname. That placed it at #9,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gravett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016. That gives Gravett a modern rank of #10,255.

What does the Gravett surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from the French place name "Gravette".

What does the Gravett map show?

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