Grass History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The surname Grass is generally thought to derive from the Old French word "grace," which means "charm" or "pleasantness." In some instances, it may have evolved from the Old French word "gros," which means "great," or "large." In either instance, the name was a nickname which evolved into a surname.

Early Origins of the Grass family

The surname Grass was first found in Buckinghamshire where they were descended from a Norman knight from Le Gras in Normandy, who arrived in England with the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. 1

Early records show William le Gras in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1199, and in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire of 1219. Roger le Gas was on record in the Curia Regis Rolls for Staffordshire of 1200. William atte Grase was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset of 1327. 2

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. had two early listings for the family: Ascelin le Gras, Norfolk, and Roger Grassus, Lincolnshire. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Roger le Gras, Wiltshire; Alan le Gras, Yorkshire; and Hugh le Gras, Lincolnshire. 4

William atte Grase, was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward I's reign.) 5

Early History of the Grass family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grass research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1548, 1574, 1690 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Grass History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grass Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grace, Grase, Gras, Grass, Grasse and others.

Early Notables of the Grass family

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

Grass Ranking

In the United States, the name Grass is the 6,544^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Grass family to Ireland

Some of the Grass family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grass migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grass Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Leonard Grass, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 7
Peter Grass, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 7
Jacob Grass, who settled in Philadelphia in 1752
George Grass, who settled in Philadelphia in 1752
Joseph Grass, who settled in Philadelphia in 1752
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grass Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gotleb Grass, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1807 7
Christian Grass, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 7
Adam Grass, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 7
Christoph Georg Grass, who arrived in America in 1850 7
John Grass, aged 46, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grass migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Grass Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Danil Grass, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Regina Grass, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Sophia Grass, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Mr. Jacob Grass U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 8
Capt. Michael Grass U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Grass (post 1700) +

John Grass (1836-1918), also known as Mato Watakpe or Charging Bear, American Aboriginal chief of the Sihasapa (Blackfeet) band of Lakota people during the 1870s through 1890s; he fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana
Frank J. Grass (b. 1951), United States Army general who serves as 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Alexander "Alex" Grass (1927-2009), American businessman and lawyer who founded Rite Aid, one of America's largest drugstore chains
William Grass, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1952 9
Sadie Grass, American politician, Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1960; Tax Cut Candidate for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 12th District, 1961 9
Morton Grass, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1948 9
James E. Grass, American politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Franconia, 1948 9
H. C. Grass, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1904 9
Daniel Grass (1774-1836), American politician, Delegate to Indiana State Constitutional Convention, 1816; Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1819-21; Member of Indiana State Senate, 1821-27 9
Arthur Conrad Grass (1897-1994), English-born, Brazilian cricketer who played for the South Americas Team in 1932
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)