Graham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Graham

What does the name Graham mean?

The distinguished Graham family, which is thoroughly woven into the intricate tapestry of Scottish history, finds its origin with the proud Norman people. The name comes from the place Grantham in Lincolnshire, recorded in Domesday Book as Graham.

Early Origins of the Graham family

The surname Graham was first found in Midlothian, where they settled after accompanying Earl David of Huntingdon into Scotland during the 12th century. In 1128, King David I granted the lands of Abercorn and Dalkeith to William de Graham, who is the first recorded member of the Graham Clan in Scotland and was witness to several royal charters.

Henry de Graham inherited the estates of his father-in-law in Eskdale in 1243. Sir John de Grahame was a faithful companion of the Scottish patriot Sir William Wallace and was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298.

"[Grahamston] derives its name from Sir John the Graham, who was killed here in the battle which Wallace fought with Edward I." 1

Early History of the Graham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Graham research. Another 422 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1128, 1237, 1298, 1427, 1450, 1464, 1488, 1505, 1513, 1548, 1603, 1608, 1612, 1634, 1648, 1650, 1680, 1689, 1694, 1695, 1702, 1707, 1715, 1745, 1782 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Graham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Graham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Graham, Grahame, Graeme, Grame, Greumach (Gaelic), Montross and many more.

Early Notables of the Graham family

Notable among the family at this time was

William Graham, 4th Lord Graham (1464-1513), who became the Earl of Montrose in 1505
John Graham (1548-1608), 3rd Earl of Montrose was the Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
James Graham (1612-1650), 5th Earl and 1st Marquess of Montrose, a Scottish general in the English Civil Wars, who fought for the Royalists of Charles
John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee (c.1648-1689), known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse
Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston PC (1648-1695), an English diplomat and politician
William Graham, 8th Earl of Menteith, 2nd Earl of Airth (c. 1634-1694), a Scottish nobleman active in the suppression of the Covenanters

Graham World Ranking

In the United States, the name Graham is the 104^th most popular surname with an estimated 203,934 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Graham is ranked the 62^nd most popular surname with an estimated 34,951 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Graham is the 66^th popular surname with an estimated 34,809 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Graham as 79^th with 4,597 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Graham as 72^nd with 62,478 people. 6

Migration of the Graham family to Ireland

Some of the Graham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Graham migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Graham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ant Graham who settled in Virginia in 1651
And Graham, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 7
Donell Graham, who landed in Virginia in 1655 7
Elizabeth Graham, who landed in Maryland in 1676 7
Jane Graham, who landed in Maryland in 1677 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Graham, who landed in New England in 1719 7
Jo Graham, who settled in Georgia in 1733
Catharine Graham, who arrived in New York, NY in 1738 7
Eliz Graham, who arrived in New York in 1738 7
Angus Graham, who arrived in New York in 1740 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James W Graham, who landed in New York in 1801 7
Alexander Graham, aged 34, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 7
Humphry Graham, aged 50, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 7
Gilbert Graham, who landed in America in 1804 7
Joanna Graham, who landed in America in 1805 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Graham Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Augustine Graham, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Donald Graham, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Mr. Mires Graham U.E. (b. 1764) who arrived at Annapolis Royal, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia c. 1782 he died in 1833 in Centreville, Digby County, Nova Scotia, married to Anna Waggoner they had 4 children 8
Mr. Oliver Graham U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 8
Mr. Robert Graham U.E. who settled in Kingston, New Brunswick c. 1784 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Graham, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1814
William Graham, aged 50, Scottish labourer who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 7 children 7
Elizabeth Graham, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1821
Duncan Graham, who arrived in Canada in 1832
Sarah Graham, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Graham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Graham, (b. 1786), aged 15, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1859 9
Miss. Mary Ann Graham, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Catherine Mary Ann Graham, British Convict who was convicted in Winchester, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. James Graham, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. William Graham, Scottish convict who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Graham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Graham, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
David Graham, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
George Graham, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
W S Graham, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Graham, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1840 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Graham (post 1700) +

Katharine Meyer Graham (1917-2001), American publisher of The Washington Post; her memoir, Personal History, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Martha Graham (1894-1991), American dancer, choreographer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
William Franklin "Billy" Graham KBE Jr. (1918-2018), American evangelical Christian evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister, host of the annual Billy Graham Crusades (1947-2005), spiritual adviser to every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama
Wayne Leon Graham (1936-2024), American head coach for baseball
Daniel Robert Graham (1936-2024), American lawyer, author, and politician for Florida
Gary Rand Graham (1950-2024), American actor, musician, and author, best known for his starring role as Detective Matthew Sikes in the television series Alien Nation (1989â€“1990) and five subsequent Alien Nation television films (1994â€“1997),and for his role as Soval, the Vulcan ambassador to Earth in Star Trek: Enterprise
Kenny Graham (1941-2023), born James Kenneth Harold Graham, an American professional AFL football player who played for seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers and with the National Football League (NFL)'s Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers
Stanley R. Graham (1926-2023), American psychologist and former president of the American Psychological Association
Saundra Graham (1940-2023), American politician from Cambridge, Massachusetts who served as a Cambridge City Councilor from 1971 to 1989, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1977 to 1988
Daniel "Dan" Graham (1942-2022), American visual artist, writer, and curator in the writer-artist tradition from Urbana, Illinois
... (Another 51 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Graham family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Thomas Lyle Graham (1958-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Jacksonville, Florida, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 14
Mr. Kelly O Graham (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from San Jose, California, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 14

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Elizabeth Graham (1868-1914), née Humphreys British First Class Passenger returning from Hong Kong, China who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 15
Mr. Walter Graham (1859-1914), British First Class Passenger returning from Hong Kong, China who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 15

Flight TWA 800

Mr. Steven K. Graham (1958-1996), aged 38, from Napa, California, USA, American Marketing Director flying aboard Flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 16

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. James Graham, Canadian rancher of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
Mrs. Graham, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
Mr. John Graham, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
Mr. Joseph Graham, Canadian resident of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
Mr. Alexander Graham, Canadian labourer of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 17
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Francis Graham (1892-1917), Canadian Ironworker at Halifax Graving Dock from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Mrs. Florence Graham (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. George Albert Graham (1920-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Belmore, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19

HMS Hood

Mr. Donald Graham (b. 1916), English Supply Assistant serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. William Marcus Graham, British Lieutenant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
Mr. William Graham, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
Mr. Alastair Kennedy Douglas Graham, British Midshipman Paymaster, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. Thomas Graham, British Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22

HMS Royal Oak

Samuel Graham (d. 1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy Reserve aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23
Philip William Colles Graham (1920-1939), British Midshipman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23
George Munroe Graham (1922-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23

Lady of the Lake

Miss Jane Graham (b. 1817), Irish traveller from Coleraine, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and she died in the sinking
Miss Mary Ann Graham (b. 1815), traveller who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and she died in the sinking

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Gordon Graham, American 3rd Class passenger from San Francisco, California, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24

RMS Titanic

Mr. Thomas G. Graham, aged 28, Irish Fireman/Stoker from Belfast, Ireland who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking 25
Mrs. Edith Ware Graham, (née Junkins), aged 59, American First Class passenger from Greenwich, Connecticut who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 3 25
Miss Margaret Edith Graham, aged 19, American First Class passenger from Greenwich, Connecticut who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 3 25
Mr. George Edward Graham (d. 1912), aged 38, Canadian First Class passenger from Winnipeg, Manitoba who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 25

SS Alcoa Puritan

B.F. Graham, American Able Seaman from Mobile, Alabama, who was working aboard the SS Alcoa Puritan (1942) traveling from Port of Spain, Trinidad to Mobile, Alabama when it was torpedoed by U-boat U-507; he survived the sinking 26

USS Arizona

Mr. Donald A. Graham, American Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 27

Victoria steamboat disaster

Mary E. Graham, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881
Simon P. Graham, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

Vimy Ridge

James Graham (1887-1917), Canadian farmer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917

The Graham 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: Ne oublie
Motto Translation: Do not forget.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Alcoa_Puritan_(1941) - (Retrieved 2018, February 8th)
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html