Surname Gravlee - Meaning and Origin
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Gravlee: What does the surname Gravlee mean?
The last name Gravlee is of English origin and is thought to be derived from the Old English given name Grave. The name Grave is derived from the word grave meaning heavy or serious. The suffix -lee is believed to have been added to denote a person from a particular place.
During the Middle Ages, the last name Gravlee indicated someone who was from a place referred to as Gravelee. In the modern day, Gravlee is often used as a surname indicating a person from the area of Gravlee in Suffolk, England.
The Gravlee name can also be found in Scotland, where it is thought to have originated from the Old Scots name Grav, a variant of the Gaelic name MacGrath. In Scotland, it is found in Aberdeenshire and Zooey, where the surname is believed to have originated with the Clan MacGrath.
The last name Gravlee is a relatively uncommon one. As families with this name have spread out, the name has taken on other variations such as Gravely, Gravelen, and Gravalynne. Despite the variations, the meaning behind the last name Gravlee remains the same, indicating a person from a particular place.
Order DNA origin analysisGravlee: Where does the name Gravlee come from?
The last name Gravlee appears to be most common today in the United States, particularly in the southeastern part of the country. According to the US Census Bureau, Gravlee is the 5,377th most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 1,274 people carrying the surname.
Most Gravlees reside in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Between the three states, Gravlee is the 622nd, 945th, and 1181st most common last name respectively.
Gravlee can also be found in scattered concentrations around the United States. This includes a smattering of Gravlees in the Midwest, including Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as some Gravlees in Mississippi, North Carolina, and Arizona. Additionally, there are a few Gravlees who have moved as far as California, New York, and other states outside of the traditional Gravlee-region.
The Gravlee family is likely descended from the medieval German family of Graveli. The earliest members of the Gravlee family likely settled in the south-eastern US sometime in the 18th or 19th centuries and remained there.
Though the last name is relatively uncommon today, the Gravlees have made a large impact in their local communities. Many Gravlees have served in the United States armed forces, attended local universities, and participated in various charitable and philanthropic organizations over the years. The impact of the Gravlee family on southeastern United States will no doubt be felt for years to come.
Variations of the surname Gravlee
The surname Gravlee (also spelt Graver, Gravely, Gravis, Gravity, Grave, Gravel and Gravell) is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word ‘grave’ meaning ditch or pit. These names were likely originally applied as a nickname for a person known for digging such features. Records of the surname in England date back to the thirteenth century, when one Grant le Grave is recorded in the Gloucester Rolls of 1273.
Variants of the surname, including Gravely and Gravel, can be found in early American records, indicating the surname had also crossed the Atlantic. In 1839, Joseph Gravely was recorded in Augusta County, Virginia; two years later, Jesse Gravely, a farmer in Bedford County, Tennessee, was listed in the 1840 Census. Some variants of the surname, such as Gravlee, Gravis, Gravity and Graver, are more recent spellings associated with southeastern United States.
The surnames Gravlee, Graver, Gravely, Gravis and Gravity have also been used as first, or given, names. These variants are not necessarily related to the Grave/Graves family, and may have a different origin. The surname Grave is also a variant of the French surname Gravis, making it possible for some families of the same name to have different origins. For example, one branch may be from England, while another branch may be from France.
It is also possible for Gravlee and its variants to be Jewish or even Baltic surnames; due to mass migrations of Jews during the 19th century, some families adopted the surnames of the areas they settled in, which could have been Gravlee and its variants. Thus, Gravlee and its variants could have multiple origins.
In sum, the surname Gravlee can be spelt or pronounced in a variety of ways, including Graver, Gravely, Gravis, Gravity, Grave, Gravel, and Gravell. It has Anglo-Saxon roots and also played a part in the migration to the United States. Gravlee might also be of Jewish or of Baltic origin, due to centuries of migrations.
Famous people with the name Gravlee
- T. C. Gravlee: a former National Football League running back.
- Edwinah Gravlee: an American librarian and author.
- Brian Gravlee: a co-founder and Director of Platform Initiatives at Google Cloud.
- Maya Gravlee: a model and lifestyle content creator.
- Felicity Gravlee: an American-born Australian actress.
- Thomas Gravlee Jr.: a former American football halfback who played one season with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.
- Alan Gravlee: an American mayor and a retired US Navy Officer.
- Heather Gravlee: a business executive and entrepreneur who is a founder and CEO of Branding for Good.
- Henry Gravlee: a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Luther Gravlee: a former National Football League defensive tackle.