Surname Grantam - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Grantam: What does the surname Grantam mean?
Grantham is an English surname that draws its origins from a place name. The town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England, is the likely source; its name comes from Old English— "grand" meaning gravel, and "ham" meaning homestead. Therefore the name Grantham could be interpreted as ‘the farmer from the gravel ground’. So, the surname Grantham could possibly mean 'from Grantham'. It is fundamentally a geographical surname, referring to someone from that location. Note, however, that family names can be sourced from a variety of historical lines, and specific meaning or connotations may vary within families bearing this surname. This surname was made popular globally, especially in English-speaking countries, from its appearance in the famous British TV drama series 'Downton Abbey' as the family name of the Earls of Grantham.
Order DNA origin analysisGrantam: Where does the name Grantam come from?
The surname Grantam appears to be of English origin, likely denoting someone who hailed from Grantham, a market town in the English county of Lincolnshire. The place name itself is derived from Old English elements "grand," meaning "gravel," and "ham," meaning "homestead."
Though less common than its variations - Grantham and Granthem, the surname Grantam is currently found in several English-speaking countries, including England, the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it is worth mentioning that the surname is not very common. The distribution of the surname seems to be widely scattered. In the US, it could be more prevalent in states with larger populations or in areas where individuals of British descent have traditionally settled. However, it does not appear to concentrate on particular regions or states, unlike some surnames. The same is true in the UK, where individuals with the surname can likely be found throughout the country, but not in significant numbers in any specific locale. Therefore, its representation today seems fairly diffuse rather than concentrated in a particular area.
Variations of the surname Grantam
The surname Grantam may have alternative spellings and variants including Grantham, Grandham, Grentem, Granthem, and Grandtham. These slight variations in spelling may have occurred due to clerical errors, individual's unique way of spelling, or as the name was passed down through generations.
This surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname. It's derived from a place reputedly called 'Grantham' (located in Lincolnshire), which was originally spelled as 'Grandham' in the Domesday Book of 1086, and 'Graham' in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire dated 1188.
The name is made up of the Old English pre 7th Century elements "grand", meaning gravel, and "ham", meaning homestead or village. Therefore, the surname can be interpreted as "one who came from the gravelly homestead". Over time, different branches of the family may have adopted different spellings of this surname.
The surname also extended to other nations including Scotland and Ireland where it's found as Grant and McGrant. It's important to note that these interpretations are populated from various historical records and might not be entirely accurate.
Famous people with the name Grantam
Based on the available suggestion, there seems to be no famous people with the last name 'Grantham'. However, there are notable personalities with the closely related last name 'Grantham'. These include Jeremy Grantham, a British investor and co-founder of GMO, a Boston-based asset management firm. Another notable person is Richard Grantham, a former professional Australian rules football player. There is also Grantham Coleman, an American actor best known for his theater work, and Luke Grantham, an Australian rules footballer. Furthermore, there is a fictional connection in terms of the Crawley family, also known as the Earls of Grantham, from the popular British period drama "Downton Abbey". If 'Grantham' was a misspelling, there are numerous famous people with the surname 'Grant'. This includes actors like Hugh Grant and Cary Grant, as well as athletes like Horace Grant and Grant Hill.