Graycay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The ancient Dalriadan people were the ancestors of the first to use the name Graycay. It was a name for a shoemaker. The Scottish surname is derived from the Gaelic word greusaich or griasaich, which originally meant a decorator or embroiderer but later came to mean a shoemaker.

Early Origins of the Graycay family

The surname Graycay was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

The English Gracy or Grancey variant is Norman in origin as "Grancey is on the confines of Champagne and Burgundy, an gave its name to a great Burgundian family, several times Constables of the province, that ended in the fourteenth century with Eudo de Grancey. The feudal castle of Grancey, dating from this time, was only pulled down at the beginning of the last century. [(1700's)] The first trace I could find of the family in England was at Warford in Cheshire; the seat of the Grascys, Grasties, or Greestys, for many successive generations." 1

Early History of the Graycay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Graycay research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1613, 1639, 1651, 1653 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Graycay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Graycay Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Graycay has been spelled Gracie, Gracey, Grassy, Greacey and others.

Early Notables of the Graycay family

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

Migration of the Graycay family to Ireland

Some of the Graycay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Graycay family

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Graycay were among those contributors: three brothers and a sister, who settled in Charlestown, South Carolina, in 1767. A. Gracie settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1821; Wm. Gracie settled in New York in 1821.

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3