Graham (/ˈɡreɪəm,ɡræm/)[1] is a surname of
Scottish and
English origin. It is typically an
Anglo-French form of the name of the town of
Grantham, in
Lincolnshire,
England.[2] The settlement is recorded in the 11th century Domesday Book variously as Grantham, Grandham, Granham and Graham. This place name is thought to be derived from the
Old English elements grand, possibly meaning "
gravel", and ham, meaning "hamlet" the English word given to small settlements of smaller size than villages.
Variants and use
In the 12th century, the surname was taken from
England to
Scotland by Sir
William de Graham, who founded
Clan Graham. The surname was later taken to Northern Ireland by settlers from Scotland and England in the 17th century. Variant spellings are Grahame and Graeme.
Its origin as a surname has led to its use as a given name, as for example in the case of Graham Cockburn, a daughter of
Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn.
The surname is presently commonly used as a masculine given name (see
Graham given name).
Notable people
Alasdair Graham (1929–2015), Canadian politician, journalist, and businessman
This page lists people with the
surnameGraham. If an
internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that
link by adding the person's
given name(s) to the link.
Graham (/ˈɡreɪəm,ɡræm/)[1] is a surname of
Scottish and
English origin. It is typically an
Anglo-French form of the name of the town of
Grantham, in
Lincolnshire,
England.[2] The settlement is recorded in the 11th century Domesday Book variously as Grantham, Grandham, Granham and Graham. This place name is thought to be derived from the
Old English elements grand, possibly meaning "
gravel", and ham, meaning "hamlet" the English word given to small settlements of smaller size than villages.
Variants and use
In the 12th century, the surname was taken from
England to
Scotland by Sir
William de Graham, who founded
Clan Graham. The surname was later taken to Northern Ireland by settlers from Scotland and England in the 17th century. Variant spellings are Grahame and Graeme.
Its origin as a surname has led to its use as a given name, as for example in the case of Graham Cockburn, a daughter of
Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn.
The surname is presently commonly used as a masculine given name (see
Graham given name).
Notable people
Alasdair Graham (1929–2015), Canadian politician, journalist, and businessman
This page lists people with the
surnameGraham. If an
internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that
link by adding the person's
given name(s) to the link.