Show ContentsGracy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Gracy was first used centuries ago in the region that was once the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. It was a name for a shoemaker. The Scottish surname is derived from the Gaelic word greusaich or griasaich, which originally meant a decorator or embroiderer but later came to mean a shoemaker.

Early Origins of the Gracy family

The surname Gracy was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

The English Gracy or Grancey variant is Norman in origin as "Grancey is on the confines of Champagne and Burgundy, an gave its name to a great Burgundian family, several times Constables of the province, that ended in the fourteenth century with Eudo de Grancey. The feudal castle of Grancey, dating from this time, was only pulled down at the beginning of the last century. [(1700's)] The first trace I could find of the family in England was at Warford in Cheshire; the seat of the Grascys, Grasties, or Greestys, for many successive generations." 1

Early History of the Gracy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gracy research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1613, 1639, 1651, 1653 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gracy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gracy Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Gracy has been spelled Gracie, Gracey, Grassy, Greacey and others.

Early Notables of the Gracy family

More information is included under the topic Early Gracy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Gracy family to Ireland

Some of the Gracy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Gracy migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Gracy were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Gracy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Gracy, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 2
  • John Gracy, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 2
  • Mary Gracy, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 2
  • Robert Gracy, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 2
Gracy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Phil Gracy, who arrived in America in 1805 2
  • Philip Gracy, aged 28, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 2
  • Jane Gracy, who landed in America in 1805 2
  • Edward Gracy, who landed in Mississippi in 1839 2
  • Patt Gracy, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 2


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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