Graham Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Graham mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Graham name
Graham is a Scottish surname from Grantham in Lincolnshire, recorded in Domesday Book as Grandham, "gravelly homestead". William de Graham settled in Scotland under King David I in the twelfth century and the family became prominent there. The name is common throughout Scotland, the Borders and Ulster.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Graham name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Graham name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Graham family history
Your full Graham pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Graham coat of arms for you.
Graham name FAQ
What does the Graham name mean?
From Grantham, "gravelly homestead". Common variants include Graeme, Grahame, Grimes.
Where does the Graham surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Is there a Graham coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Graham crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Graham coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; US Census Bureau 2010.