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

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

Graham World Ranking

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 +

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 8
Donell Graham, who landed in Virginia in 1655 8
Elizabeth Graham, who landed in Maryland in 1676 8
Jane Graham, who landed in Maryland in 1677 8
... (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 8
Jo Graham, who settled in Georgia in 1733
Catharine Graham, who arrived in New York, NY in 1738 8
Eliz Graham, who arrived in New York in 1738 8
Angus Graham, who arrived in New York in 1740 8
... (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 8
Alexander Graham, aged 34, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 8
Humphry Graham, aged 50, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 8
Gilbert Graham, who landed in America in 1804 8
Joanna Graham, who landed in America in 1805 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Graham migration to Canada +

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 9
Mr. Oliver Graham U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 9
Mr. Robert Graham U.E. who settled in Kingston, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
... (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 8
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 included the First Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Miss Sarah Graham, (b. 1763), aged 24, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7

Following the First Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia 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 10
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 10
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 11
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 12
Miss Isabella Graham, (b. 1787), aged 27, Irish settler who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Francis and Eliza" on 15th December 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (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 14
... (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 (1989–1990) and five subsequent Alien Nation television films (1994–1997),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
... (Another 55 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 15
Mr. Kelly O Graham (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from San Jose, California, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 16
Miss Elizabeth Graham, Australian passenger who died aboard the ship "Dunbar" when she sunk off the coast of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), Australia on 28th August 1857
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 16
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 17
... (Another 35 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
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