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 demesne 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.
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Notable bearers
A. J. Graves (born 1985), American basketball player
Aaron Graves (born 2003), American football player
Adam Graves (born 1968), Canadian ice hockey player
Adelia Cleopatra Graves (1821–1895), American educator and author
Albinus Peter Graves (1887–1964) American Christian Brother and missionary
Alfred Perceval Graves (1846–1931), Anglo-Irish poet
Algernon Graves (1845–1922), British art historian and art dealer
Allen Graves (born 2006), American basketball player
Alvin C. Graves (1909–1965), American nuclear physicist
Amy Graves, American physics educator
Bau Graves, American musician and musicologist
Bibb Graves (1873–1942), American politician
Bill Graves (born 1953), American politician
Bob Graves (footballer) (1942–2021), English footballer
Carie Graves (1953–2021), American rower
Cecil Graves (1892–1957), Joint Director-General of the BBC
Charles Graves (disambiguation), several people
Clare W. Graves (1914–1986), American psychologist
Clotilde Graves (1863–1932), Irish and play writer author
Corey Graves (born 1984), American professional wrestling commentator
D. V. Graves (Dorsett Vandeventer Graves, 1886–1960), American sports coach
Danny Graves (born 1973), American baseball player
Denyce Graves (born 1964), American mezzo-soprano opera singer
Dick Graves (1912–1990), American businessperson
Dixie Bibb Graves (1882–1965), American politician
Don Graves, American lawyer
Donald Graves (disambiguation), several people
Earl G. Graves Jr. (born 1962), American basketball player
Earl G. Graves Sr. (1935–2020), American businessman
Ed Graves (1917–1980), American art director
Edward O. Graves (1843–1909), American banker
Ernest Graves (actor) (1919–1983), American actor
Ernest Graves Jr. (1924–2019), United States Army general
Ernest Graves, Sr. (1880–1953), United States Army general
Evelyn Graves, 9th Baron Graves (1926–2002), Irish noble
Ezra Graves (1809–1883), New York judge and politician
Frank Graves (disambiguation), several people
Frederick Graves (1858–1940), American missionary and bishop
Garret Graves (born 1972), American politician
George Graves (actor) (1876–1949), English comic actor
George Graves (biologist) (1784–1839), English naturalist
George S. Graves (1820–1902), American politician
Harmon S. Graves (1870–1940), American football player, coach, and lawyer
Henry Graves (disambiguation), several people
Howard D. Graves (1939–2003), United States Army general
James Graves (disambiguation), several people
Jason Graves, American composer
Jerry Graves (1938–2021), American basketball player
Jim Graves (born 1953), American hotelier and political candidate
John Graves (disambiguation), several people
Joseph L. Graves Jr. (born 1955), American scientist
Josh Graves (1927–2006), American bluegrass musician
Keara Graves (born 1999), Canadian YouTuber
Kelly Graves (born 1963), American basketball coach
Kersey Graves (1813–1883), American philosopher
Kyle Graves (born 1989), Canadian gridiron football player and coach
Leslie Graves (1959–1995), American actress
Lucia Graves (born 1943), English writer and translato
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 (1839–1908), American minister, literary editor, writer
Matthew Graves (born 1974), American basketball player and coach
Michael Graves (disambiguation), several people
Michale Graves (born 1975), American singer
Milford Graves (1941–2021), American jazz drummer and percussionist
Morris Graves (1910–2001), American painter
Nancy Graves (1939–1995), American painter and sculptor
Nell Cole Graves (1908–1997), American artist
Nelson Graves (1880–1918), American cricketer
Nelson Z. Graves (1849–1930), American businessman
Paul D. Graves (1907–1972), New York politician and judge
Peter Graves (disambiguation), several people
Philip Graves (1876–1953), Anglo-Irish journalist and writer
Ralph Graves (1900–1977), American screenwriter, film director and actor
Ralph Graves (writer) (1924–2013), American writer
Randall Graves (1792–1831), American politician
Ray Graves (1918–2015), American football player and coach
Richard Graves (disambiguation), several people
Robert Graves (disambiguation), including "Rob", several people
Roosevelt Graves, American blues guitarist and singer
Ross Graves (1874–1940), New York politician
Rupert Graves (born 1963), English actor
Ryan Graves (disambiguation), several people
Sam Graves (born 1963), American politician
Samuel Graves (1713–1787), Royal Navy admiral
Samuel Robert Graves (1818–1873), British politician
Steve Graves (born 1964), Canadian ice hockey player
Teresa Graves (1948–2002), American actress
Terrence C. Graves, American marine
Thomas Graves (disambiguation), including "Tom", several people
Todd Graves (attorney), American lawyer
Valerie Graves (1958–2013), English murder victim
White Graves (born 1942), American football player
William Graves (disambiguation), including "Bill", several people
Fictional characters
Agent Graves, fictional character from 100 Bullets
David Graves (character), comics character
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
Skully J. Graves, a Halloween event character from the video game Disney Twisted-Wonderland
