Show ContentsGraney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Graney comes from the original Irish "O Grainne," from the female Christian name Grainne. Thus, it is one of a very limited number of matronymic names in Ireland.

Early Origins of the Graney family

The surname Graney was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where the Justiciary Rolls mention the acquittal of Rawenyld O'Grayne in 1313, who was charged with aiding a convicted robber. The name appears in 16th century Tudor Fiants from the same area.

Early History of the Graney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Graney research. More information is included under the topic Early Graney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Graney Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Greaney, O'Greaney, Greany, O'Greany, Graney, Granny, O'Granie, O'Grane and many more.

Early Notables of the Graney family

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

Graney Ranking

In the United States, the name Graney is the 18,204th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Graney migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Graney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Graney, who landed in New Orleans in 1851
  • K. Graney and family, who arrived in New York in 1863
  • Michael Graney, who arrived in Mississippi in 1872 [2]

Canada Graney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Graney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Graney, who was recorded in the 1871 census in Ontario

Australia Graney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Graney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Graney (aged 14), a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Hooghly" [3]
  • John Graney (aged 18), a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Hooghly" [3]
  • Patrick Graney (aged 20), a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Hooghly" [3]
  • John Graney, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Lady Ann"

Contemporary Notables of the name Graney (post 1700) +

  • William J. Graney, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Westchester County 2nd District, 1898; Member of New York State Senate 22nd District, 1899-1900 [4]
  • Daniel H. Graney, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 16th District, 1904 [4]
  • Dave Graney, award winning Australian R&B singer
  • John Gladstone Graney, Canadian left fielder in Major League Baseball eponym of the "Jack Graney Award"

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Morris William Graney (1921-1942), British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking, but was listed as missing presumed killed in the evacuation of Singapore in 1942 [5]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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)
  3. South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1856.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook