Grathan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Grathan

What does the name Grathan mean?

The Grathan surname was Mag Reachtain in Irish Gaelic.

Early Origins of the Grathan family

The surname Grathan was first found in Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Grathan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grathan research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1500 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Grathan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grathan Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Grathan that are preserved in archival documents are Gratton, Grattan, MacGrattan and others.

Early Notables of the Grathan family

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

Migration of the Grathan family

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the Grathan name: John Gratton, who settled in New York in 1820 and Edward Gratton landed in Philadelphia in 1862; Mary Gratton settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1848; Edward Grattan settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1862..

The Grathan 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: Pro patria vivere et mori
Motto Translation: For my country, I live and die