Graves (surname)

Graves is a surname of English origin. Its distribution within England is centered on Lincolnshire, followed in concentration by Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, and East Anglia. The surname is likely a variant of Grave with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s. The surname Grave seems to have its possible origins in: 1. "Occupational name from Middle English greyve, grayve, greve 'steward bailif, manorial officer who managed the lord's demense farm, headman of a town or village', a borrowing from Old Scandinavian greifi 'earl, count". 2. "Locative name from Middle English grave "pit" (Old English graef)". 3. "Relationship name (in Norfolk), possibly from the rare Middle English personal name Gre(y)vy, Gre(i)ve, Old Scandinavian Greifi, *Grefe, originally a nickname meaning 'earl, count".

The name likely seems to be of Scandinavian origin within England, as suggested by its distribution which corresponds largely to counties of the former Danelaw. This suggests its most common origin being that of an occupational surname, as the Grave is the Norse derived Danelaw (from the Old Norse greifi) counterpart to the Old English Reeve (from the Old English ġerēfa).

Bearers of the surname Graves most commonly belong to haplogroups R1b-U106, R1b-P312, I1, and I2. Lines have also been identified as belonging to E, J, R1a, and Q.

Notable Bearers

 * Aaron Graves (born 2003), American football player
 * Adam Graves, Canadian ice hockey player
 * Adelia Cleopatra Graves (1821–1895), American educator and author
 * Alfred Perceval Graves, Irish writer
 * Amy Graves, American physicist
 * Bibb Graves, American politician
 * Bill Graves, American politician
 * Cecil Graves, BBC Director-General
 * Charles Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Clare W. Graves, American psychologist
 * Danny Graves, American baseball player
 * Denyce Graves, American mezzo-soprano
 * Dick Graves, American businessman
 * Dixie Bibb Graves, American politician, wife of Bibb Graves
 * D. V. Graves (Dorsett Vandeventer Graves, 1886–1960), American college sports coach
 * Earl G. Graves Sr. (1935–2020), African-American entrepreneur and founder of Black Enterprise
 * Ed Graves (1917–1980), American art director
 * Edward O. Graves (1843–1909), American banker
 * Ernest Graves (actor), American actor
 * Ernest Graves, Sr., American athlete, coach, and military officer
 * Evelyn Paget Graves, 9th Baron Graves (1926–2002)
 * Ezra Graves (1809–1883), New York judge and politician
 * Frank Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * George Graves (actor) (1876–1949), English comic actor
 * George Graves (biologist) (1784–1839), English naturalist
 * George S. Graves, American politician
 * Henry Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * James Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Jerry Graves, American basketball player
 * John Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Josh Graves, American bluegrass musician
 * Keara Graves, Canadian actress
 * Kelly Graves (born 1963), American basketball coach
 * Kersey Graves, American theological reformist and writer
 * Kyle Graves, Canadian football player
 * Leslie Graves, American actress
 * Lucia Graves, British novelist and translator
 * Lulu Grace Graves (1874–1949), American dietitian
 * L. C. Graves (1918–1995), American police detective
 * Marion Coats Graves (1885–1962), American educator
 * Mary H. Graves, American minister, editor, writer
 * Michael Graves, American architect
 * Michael Graves (audio engineer), American audio engineer, born 1968
 * Michael Graves (poker player) (born 1984), American poker player
 * Michale Graves, American singer/songwriter
 * Milford Graves, American-born jazz drummer
 * Morris Graves, American artist
 * Nancy Graves, American sculptor
 * Nell Cole Graves, American potter
 * Nelson Z. Graves Sr., American businessman
 * Nelson Z. Graves Jr., Philadelphian cricketer
 * Paul D. Graves (1907–1972), New York politician and judge
 * Peter Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Philip Graves, British journalist
 * Ralph Graves (1900–1977), American screenwriter, film director and actor
 * Ralph Graves (writer) (1924–2013), American writer
 * Randall Graves, New York politician, assemblyman 1829
 * Ray Graves, American footballer
 * Richard Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Robert Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Roosevelt Graves, American blues guitarist and singer
 * Ross Graves (1874–1940), New York politician
 * Rupert Graves, English actor
 * Ryan Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Sam Graves, American politician
 * Samuel Graves, British Admiral
 * Samuel Robert Graves, Irish-born businessman and Conservative politician (1818–1873)
 * Steve Graves, Canadian former NHL player
 * Teresa Graves, African-American actress
 * Terrence C. Graves, American marine
 * Thomas Graves (disambiguation), several people
 * Tomás Graves, writer and musician
 * White Graves (born 1942), American football player
 * William Graves (disambiguation), several people

Fictional characters

 * Agent Graves, fictional character from 100 Bullets
 * Gustav Graves, villain in the James Bond film Die Another Day
 * Mercy Graves, DC Comics character
 * Nathan Graves, fictional character, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
 * Randal Graves, fictional character in Clerks
 * Phillip Graves, a fictional character in the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
 * Malcolm Graves, a playable character in the online arena game League of Legends
 * Lincoln Graves, a playable character in the video game Conflict: Denied Ops
 * Percival Graves, fictional character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
 * Andrew and Ashley Graves, two playable characters in the video game The Coffin of Andy and Leyley