UK surname
Home or dweller from the gray homestead or hamlet.
In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Grayham surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #17,756 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Aysgarth, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grayham is 123 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.3%.
1881 census count
120
Ranked #17,756
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1851
123 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grayham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grayham surname density by area, 1881 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 120 | #17,756 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Aysgarth, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Whalley, Dalton-le-Dale and Preston. 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 | Aysgarth | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 2 | Gainsborough, Paddocks | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| 4 | Dalton-le-Dale | Durham |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grayham 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 Grayham, 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 Grayham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grayham 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, Grayham 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 Grayham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grayham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Grayham has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "græg" meaning gray and "ham" meaning settlement or homestead, suggesting that the name referred to a gray-colored village or hamlet.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, where a certain William de Grayham is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 12th century and had likely been established in the region for some time prior.
In the 13th century, the Grayham name appeared in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. For example, a Richard de Grayham is mentioned in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1246, while a John de Grayham is recorded in the Lincolnshire Assize Rolls of 1272.
The name may also have been derived from place names such as Grayingham in Lincolnshire or Grayrigg in Cumbria, both of which share similar etymological roots. However, it is more likely that the surname originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a gray-colored settlement, rather than being directly derived from a specific place name.
Notable individuals bearing the Grayham surname throughout history include:
1. Sir William Grayham (c. 1340-1415), an English knight and landowner who served under King Richard II and King Henry IV. 2. Robert Grayham (1558-1628), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge. 3. Elizabeth Grayham (c. 1620-1691), an English Puritan writer and diarist, known for her detailed accounts of daily life in 17th-century England. 4. John Grayham (1674-1742), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral. 5. Mary Grayham (1782-1856), a British philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the education of working-class children and the abolition of child labor.
While the Grayham surname may have evolved in its spelling over the centuries, it remains a distinct name with a rich historical legacy dating back to medieval England and its settlement patterns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grayham 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. Yorkshire leads with 26 Grayhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 26 | 2.36x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.36x |
| Kent | 17 | 4.48x |
| Lincolnshire | 9 | 5.06x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.29x |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 8.52x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.45x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 3.18x |
| Dorset | 4 | 5.48x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.42x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.07x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.81x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.07x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 2.22x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.57x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.30x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Emley in Yorkshire leads with 11 Grayhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2244.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Emley | 11 | 2244.90x |
| Gainsborough | 9 | 214.80x |
| Rawmarsh | 8 | 205.66x |
| Blackburn | 6 | 17.09x |
| Coveney | 6 | 3157.89x |
| Maidstone | 6 | 53.10x |
| Leeds | 5 | 8.04x |
| Rotherhithe | 5 | 36.39x |
| Bury | 4 | 26.54x |
| Eastry | 4 | 754.72x |
| Poole St James | 4 | 145.99x |
| Stoke Climsland | 4 | 500.00x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 3.74x |
| Sibertswold | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Withington | 3 | 70.59x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.14x |
| Cramlington | 2 | 91.32x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.23x |
| Tynemouth | 2 | 22.57x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 14.27x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.30x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 5.57x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 1 | 10.07x |
| Bettws Y Coed | 1 | 333.33x |
| Catcliffe | 1 | 625.00x |
| Dawdon | 1 | 24.57x |
| East Grinstead | 1 | 37.74x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 12.79x |
| Hale | 1 | 117.65x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.93x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.03x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 3.33x |
| Longhope | 1 | 270.27x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 9.17x |
| Matlock | 1 | 42.74x |
| New Malton | 1 | 75.76x |
| Ninfield | 1 | 434.78x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.45x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.24x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 4.47x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 1 | 106.38x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 7.31x |
| Witney | 1 | 86.96x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grayham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Elizth. | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Rachel | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bridgett | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Ealenor | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Sophair | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grayham 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 Grayham households.
FAQ
In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Grayham surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Grayham a modern rank of #35,887.
Home or dweller from the gray homestead or hamlet.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grayham 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.