Show ContentsGras History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Gras surname is of uncertain origins and may have arisen independently from different sources; some instances of the name are thought to derive from the place name La Grâce, in Marne.

Early Origins of the Gras family

The surname Gras was first found in Provence, where the family has held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Gras family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gras research. Another 332 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1547, 1667, 1707, 1710 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Gras History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gras Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grasse, Grase, Gresse, Grese, Gras, Le Grasse, Du Grasse, Du Gras, DeGrace, Degrace and many more.

Early Notables of the Gras family

Notable amongst the names at this time was

  • François-Joseph Grasse, famous Lieutenant General

Gras Ranking

In France, the name Gras is the 403rd most popular surname with an estimated 10,516 people with that name. 1


United States Gras migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gras Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Michael Gras, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
  • Chr Henr Gras, who landed in America in 1750-1753 2
  • Conrad Gras, who arrived in America in 1750-1753 2
  • Joh Deis Gras, who arrived in America in 1750-1753 2
  • Mariano Gras, who settled in Louisiana in 1779
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gras Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J. Gras, aged 20, settled in New Orleans in 1823
  • Jayme Gras, aged 20, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1823 2
  • James Gras, aged 24, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1836 2
  • Jose Gras, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1839 2
  • Pedro Gras, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1864 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Gras (post 1700) +

  • Patricia Elizabeth Gras (b. 1960), American regional Emmy Award winning television anchor and senior producer
  • General Basile Gras (1836-1901), French inventor of the Gras rifle
  • Félix Gras (1844-1901), French poet and novelist
  • Laurent Gras (b. 1976), French ice hockey player
  • Laurent Gras (b. 1965), French chef
  • Enrico Gras (1919-1981), Italian film director and screenwriter
  • Francesc Gras Salas (1921-2022), Spanish ophthalmologist and writer who contributed to the dissemination of Reus memory and history


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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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