Gratrix History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Gratrix name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in an area that was referred to as the great ridge. Gratrix is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, or in this case a ridge. 1 Another source postulates that the name was from "Greatorick, from Gayteric, the old form of Catterick, Yorkshire, in which county the name remains common." 2 And two sources claim the name is from Great Rocks; a hamlet, Tideswell, Derbyshire. 3 4 This latter source dives into more detail: "the Derbyshire name of Greatorex is evidently derived from Great Rocks, a hamlet in the parish of Wormhill. Greatrix and Gratrix are now Lancashire forms of the name." 4 And yet another source claims the name is from Greterakes, a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086. 5 Early Origins of the Gratrix familyThe surname Gratrix was first found in Essex where Augustine Brandon and Elizabeth Greatracks, of Westham, Essex married in 1382. 6 Early History of the Gratrix familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gratrix research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1628, 1629, 1647, 1659, 1666, 1675, 1683, 1697, 1712 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Gratrix History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gratrix Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Gratrix has undergone many spelling variations, including Gratrix, Greatrix, Greatrex, Great-Rex, Greatorix, Greatorex and many more. Early Notables of the Gratrix familyDistinguished members of the family include Ralph Greatorex (c.1625-1675), an English mathematical instrument maker and apprentice of London clockmaker Elias Allen, his name appears in Pepys's Diary. His date of death is uncertain as the Dictionary of National Biography claims he died as late as 1712.Valentine Greatrakes (1629-1683), whose name... Migration of the Gratrix family to IrelandSome of the Gratrix family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Gratrix Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
|