Graves is a surname of English origin. Its distribution within England is centered on Lincolnshire, followed in concentration by Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, and East Anglia. The surname is likely a variant of Grave with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s. The surname Grave seems to have its possible origins in: 1. "Occupational name from Middle English greyve, grayve, greve 'steward bailif, manorial officer who managed the lord's demense farm, headman of a town or village', a borrowing from Old Scandinavian greifi 'earl, count". 2. "Locative name from Middle English grave "pit" (Old English graef)". 3. "Relationship name (in Norfolk), possibly from the rare Middle English personal name Gre(y)vy, Gre(i)ve, Old Scandinavian Greifi, *Grefe, originally a nickname meaning 'earl, count". The name likely seems to be of Scandinavian origin within England, as suggested by its distribution which corresponds largely to counties of the former Danelaw. This suggests its most common origin being that of an occupational surname, as the Grave is the Norse derived Danelaw (from the Old Norse greifi) counterpart to the Old English Reeve (from the Old English ġerēfa). Bearers of the surname Graves most commonly belong to

haplogroups A haplotype is a group of alleles in an organism that are inherited together from a single parent, and a haplogroup ( haploid from the el, ἁπλοῦς, ''haploûs'', "onefold, simple" and en, group) is a group of similar haplotypes that shar ...

R1b-U106, R1b-P312, I1, and I2. Lines have also been identified as belonging to E, J, R1a, and Q.

Notable Bearers

* Aaron Graves (born 2003), American football player *

Adam Graves Adam Scott Graves (born April 12, 1968) is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He served 10 seasons with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sha ...

, Canadian ice hockey player *

Adelia Cleopatra Graves Adelia Cleopatra Graves ( pen name, Aunt Alice; March 17, 1821 - 1895) was an American educator, author, and poet. At one time serving as Professor of Latin and '' Belles-lettres'' at Mary Sharp College, she went on to occupy the position of Matr ...

(1821–1895), American educator and author * Alfred Perceval Graves, Irish writer * Amy Graves, American physicist *

Bibb Graves David Bibb Graves (April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942) was an American Democratic politician and the 38th Governor of Alabama 1927–1931 and 1935–1939, the first Alabama governor to serve two four-year terms. He successfully advanced progress ...

, American politician *

Bill Graves William Preston Graves (born January 9, 1953) is an American former politician who was the 43rd governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003. Career Graves was born in Salina, Kansas to parents who owned a trucking firm. After graduating from Kans ...

, American politician *

Cecil Graves Captain Sir Cecil George Graves (4 March 1892 – 12 January 1957) was joint Director-General of the BBC with Robert Foot from 26 January 1942 to 6 September 1943. Early life The son of Charles L. Graves and Alice Grey, the eldest sister of Vis ...

, BBC Director-General * Charles Graves (disambiguation), several people *

Clare W. Graves Clare W. Graves (December 21, 1914 – January 3, 1986) was a professor of psychology and originator of the ''emergent cyclical theory'' of adult human development, aspects of which were later popularised as '' Spiral Dynamics''. He was born in N ...

, American psychologist * Danny Graves, American baseball player * Denyce Graves, American mezzo-soprano *

Dick Graves Richard L. Graves (August 24, 1912 – January 12, 1990) was an American businessman from Boise, Idaho. He was known for his ethical dealings and as a casino pioneer, promoting the use of slot machines as well as being involved in advertising. H ...

, American businessman *

Dixie Bibb Graves Dixie Graves (née Bibb; July 26, 1882 – January 21, 1965) was a First Lady from the State of Alabama and the first woman to serve as a United States Senator from Alabama. She was appointed to the Senate by her husband, Governor Bibb Graves, w ...

, American politician, wife of Bibb Graves *

D. V. Graves Dorsett Vandeventer "Tubby" Graves (November 27, 1886 – January 16, 1960) was a college head coach in baseball, football, and basketball, and a player of football and baseball. A head coach in three sports, Graves was primarily a baseball ...

(Dorsett Vandeventer Graves, 1886–1960), American college sports coach *

Earl G. Graves Sr. Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. (January 9, 1935 – April 6, 2020) was an American entrepreneur, publisher, businessman, philanthropist, and advocate of African-American businesses. A graduate of Morgan State University, he was the founder of ''Blac ...

(1935–2020), African-American entrepreneur and founder of Black Enterprise * Ed Graves (1917–1980), American art director *

Edward O. Graves Edward O. Graves (3 August 1843 – 1909) was a United States banker who was Chief of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from 1885 to 1889. Biography Edward O. Graves was born in Gravesville, New York on August 3, 1843. He attended Hobart C ...

(1843–1909), American banker * Ernest Graves (actor), American actor *

Ernest Graves, Sr. Ernest "Pot" Graves (March 27, 1880 – June 9, 1953) was an American football and baseball player, coach, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy in 1906 and 1912. Graves retir ...

, American athlete, coach, and military officer *

Evelyn Paget Graves, 9th Baron Graves Evelyn Paget Graves, 9th Baron Graves (17 May 1926 – 6 December 2002), was an Australian farmer and peer. Graves was born in Tasmania, Australia, and worked as a farmer. In 1994 he succeeded his second cousin as ninth Baron Graves. However, as ...

(1926–2002) *

Ezra Graves Ezra Graves (December 1, 1803 – January 8, 1883) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life He was born on December 1, 1803, in Russia, Herkimer County, New York, the son of Assemblyman John Graves. He became a tanner and curr ...

(1809–1883), New York judge and politician * Frank Graves (disambiguation), several people *

George Graves (actor) George Windsor Graves (1 January 1876 – 2 April 1949) was an English comic actor. Although he could neither sing nor dance,

(1876–1949), English comic actor *

George Graves (biologist) George Graves (1784–1839) was the author of a comprehensive instruction guidebook for beginners in natural history at a time when there was a growing interest in collecting animal, plant and geological specimens. The naturalist's pocket-book H ...

(1784–1839), English naturalist * George S. Graves, American politician * Henry Graves (disambiguation), several people * James Graves (disambiguation), several people * Jerry Graves, American basketball player * John Graves (disambiguation), several people *

Josh Graves Josh Graves (September 27, 1927 Tellico Plains, Monroe County, Tennessee – September 30, 2006), born Burkett Howard Graves, was an American bluegrass musician. Also known by the nicknames "Buck," and "Uncle Josh," he is credited with introduci ...

, American bluegrass musician *

Keara Graves Keara Kristen Graves (born 26 April 1999) is a Canadian actress, YouTuber, and singer. They gained prominence through their role on the Family Channel (Canadian TV network), Family Channel musical series ''Lost & Found Music Studios''. Early a ...

, Canadian actress *

Kelly Graves Kelly Lee Graves (born January 14, 1963) is the current head women's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. Previously, Graves was the head women's basketball coach at St. Mary's from 1997 to 2000, as well as Gonzaga University from 2000 to ...

(born 1963), American basketball coach *

Kersey Graves Kersey Graves (November 21, 1813 – September 4, 1883) was a skeptic, atheist, rationalist, spiritualist, reformist writer, who was popular on the American freethought circuit of the late 19th century. Life Graves was born in Brownsville, Penn ...

, American theological reformist and writer *

Kyle Graves Kyle Graves (born October 12, 1989) is the offensive coordinator for the Mount Allison Mounties of U Sports football. He is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver who played for five years in the Canadian Football League. He was si ...

, Canadian football player *

Leslie Graves Leslie Marie Graves (September 29, 1959 – August 23, 1995) was an American actress. Early years Leslie Graves's father, Michael Graves, was a theatre actor and introduced her to the entertainment industry when she was about 10. She started ...

, American actress * Lucia Graves, British novelist and translator * Lulu Grace Graves (1874–1949), American dietitian * L. C. Graves (1918–1995), American police detective * Marion Coats Graves (1885–1962), American educator *

Mary H. Graves Mary H. Graves (September 12, 1839 – December 5, 1908) was an American Unitarianism, Unitarian minister, literary editor, and writer of the long nineteenth century. After Julia Ward Howe, Graves was the second woman to be ordained within this Chr ...

, American minister, editor, writer * Michael Graves, American architect *

Michael Graves (audio engineer) Michael Graves (born December 23, 1968) is an American mastering engineer. He specializes in audio restoration and audio preservation. Graves is a four-time Grammy award-winner and a twelve-time Grammy nominee. He is widely considered one of the ...

, American audio engineer, born 1968 * Michael Graves (poker player) (born 1984), American poker player * Michale Graves, American singer/songwriter * Milford Graves, American-born jazz drummer * Morris Graves, American artist *

Nancy Graves Nancy Graves (December 23, 1939 – October 21, 1995, in Massachusetts) was an American sculptor, painter, printmaker, and sometime-filmmaker known for her focus on natural phenomena like camels or maps of the Moon. Her works are included in man ...

, American sculptor *

Nell Cole Graves Nell Cole Graves (1908 – February 17, 1997) was a potter from Seagrove, North Carolina, and a winner of the 1996 North Carolina Heritage Award. Graves grew up in Montgomery County, North Carolina, with her father, Jacon B. Cole, and her brother ...

, American potter * Nelson Z. Graves Sr., American businessman * Nelson Z. Graves Jr., Philadelphian cricketer * Paul D. Graves (1907–1972), New York politician and judge * Peter Graves (disambiguation), several people *

Philip Graves Philip Perceval Graves (25 February 1876 – 3 June 1953) was an Anglo-Irish journalist and writer. While working as a foreign correspondent of ''The Times'' in Constantinople, he exposed ''The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'' as an antise ...

, British journalist *

Ralph Graves Ralph Graves (born Ralph Horsburgh; January 23, 1900 – February 18, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director and actor who appeared in more than 90 films between 1918 and 1949. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Graves had alre ...

(1900–1977), American screenwriter, film director and actor * Ralph Graves (writer) (1924–2013), American writer *

Randall Graves Randall Graves (March 19, 1792 Ashfield, then in Hampshire Co., now in Franklin County, Massachusetts - December 10, 1831) was an American politician from New York Life He was the son of Randall Graves (1760–1831) and Lydia (Coolidge) Graves ( ...

, New York politician, assemblyman 1829 * Ray Graves, American footballer * Richard Graves (disambiguation), several people * Robert Graves (disambiguation), several people * Roosevelt Graves, American blues guitarist and singer *

Ross Graves Ross Graves (August 27, 1874 in Albany, New York – April 1, 1940 in Dunkirk, New York) was an American businessman and politician from New York. Life Graves was the son of John J. Graves (1840–1921) and Sarah (Seath) Graves (1844–1917). The ...

(1874–1940), New York politician * Rupert Graves, English actor * Ryan Graves (disambiguation), several people * Sam Graves, American politician * Samuel Graves, British Admiral *

Samuel Robert Graves Samuel Robert Graves (7 June 1818 – 18 January 1873) was an Irish-born businessman and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1865 to 1873. Graves was the son of William Graves and his wife Sarah ...

, Irish-born businessman and Conservative politician (1818–1873) *

Steve Graves Stephen Graves (born 7 April 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing. He played 35 games in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers between 1983 and 1988. Playing career He began his junior career with the Ottawa ...

, Canadian former NHL player * Teresa Graves, African-American actress * Terrence C. Graves, American marine * Thomas Graves (disambiguation), several people *

Tomás Graves Tomás Graves (born 27 January 1953, Palma de Mallorca, Spain) is a graphic designer, printer, musician and writer. He is the son of the poet Robert Graves and Beryl Graves (née Pritchard). Biography In 1964, he began at Bedales boarding sch ...

, writer and musician * White Graves (born 1942), American football player *

William Graves (disambiguation) William Graves may refer to: * William Graves (judge) (born 1935), Associate Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court * William Graves (MP) (1724–1801), who sat for East Looe and West Looe in the British Parliament * William Carey Graves (1895–1966 ...

, several people * Willis Clark Graves (1926-2005), American Advertising executive, entrepreneur * Stefan (Steven) Clark Graves, (1953-), American Buddhist-Vajrayana practitioner * Scott Michael Graves, (1957-), American Oceanographer, Geographer, Science Educator

Fictional characters

* Agent Graves, fictional character from ''100 Bullets'' * Gustav Graves, villain in the James Bond film ''Die Another Day'' *

Mercy Graves Mercy Graves is a supervillain appearing in multimedia and American comic books published by DC Entertainment and DC Comics. Created for the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), she first appeared in 1996 on '' Superman: The Animated Series'' as the perso ...

, DC Comics character * Nathan Graves, fictional character, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon * Randal Graves, fictional character in ''Clerks'' * Malcolm Graves, a playable character in the online arena game League of Legends * Lincoln Graves, a playable character in the video game '' Conflict: Denied Ops'' * Percival Graves, fictional character in

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' (often referred to as simply ''Fantastic Beasts'') is a 2001 guide book written by British author J. K. Rowling (under the pen name of the fictitious author Newt Scamander) about the magical creat ...

* Andrew and Ashley Graves, two playable characters in the video game The Coffin of Andy and Leyley

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graves (Surname) English-language surnames

Notable Bearers

Fictional characters

See also

References