Granton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Granton date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Grantham, a town located in the county of Lincolnshire. The name was derived from the Old English word grand which may have been derived from the personal name Granta and the Old English word ham meaning "homestead" 1

Early Origins of the Granton family

The surname Granton was first found in Lincolnshire at Grantham, a market town within the South Kesteven district, which was first listed in the Domesday Book as Grantham. 2 3

The place name probably meant "homestead or village of a man called Granta" derived from the Old English personal name + ham. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Old English word "grand" meaning "gravel" + ham. 4

One of the first records of the family was Thomas de Grantham who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Hertfordshire in 1220. 5

Early History of the Granton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Granton research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1328, 1544, 1573, 1589, 1604, 1612, 1629, 1630, 1634, 1640, 1641, 1655, 1692 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Granton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Granton Spelling Variations

Granton has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Granton have been found, including Grantham, Grantam, Grantem, Grantum, Granthem and others.

Early Notables of the Granton family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas Grantham (1573-1630), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1604 to 1629, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford (1589); and his son, Thomas Grantham (1612-1655), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Lincoln for 1640, fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War; and Sir Thomas Grantham (1641-1718), an English tobacco trader and naval officer, Commander of...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Granton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Granton family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Grantons to arrive on North American shores: John Grantham arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772; another John settled in New England in 1778; Peter Grantham settled in New York in 1807; James Grantham arrived in Philadelphia in 1851.

The Granton Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honore et amore
Motto Translation: With honour and love.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)