Grayston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Grayston was first found in Yorkshire, where the first record of the family was Richard Grayveson who was listed as holding lands there in 1327. Nearby in Cumberland (Cumbria), John Graiveson was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included John Graveson and John Grayfson.

The name literally means "'Son of the greyve or steward.' and is a Lancashire and Yorkshire name, all the modern variants being still found in the Leeds district. Grayveson, Graysoun and Grayveston are all found in the Preston Guild Rolls." 1

Richard de Gravesend (d. 1279), was Bishop of Lincoln, became Dean of Lincoln in 1254, and was Treasurer of Hereford previously to 1258. "In September 1254 he, together with the Dean of London, was appointed to carry out the pope's confirmation of the excommunication of the infractors of Magna Charta, and a letter which he addressed to the Bishop of Lichfield on this matter in May 1255 is preserved. In July 1258 he was appointed to decide the rights of the abbey of Oseney to the church of St. George-in-the-Castle at Oxford. He was elected bishop of Lincoln on 23 Sept. 1258." 2

Richard de Gravesend (d. 1303), Bishop of London, "was Prebendary of Totenhall, and Treasurer of St. Paul's for some years before 1278. He was also Archdeacon of Northampton from 1272 to 1280, and in 1275 was Prebendary of Sutton in Lincoln Cathedral. He was elected bishop of London in 1280." 2

Stephen de Gravesend (d. 1338), was Bishop of London, and was probably a son of Sir Stephen de Gravesend, and was nephew of Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London.