Find out how popular the last name Graham is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Graham.

Graham, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Graham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Graham in America

Graham is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Graham surname appeared 220 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Graham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Graham to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Graham

The surname GRHAM originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "grama," meaning "wrath" or "anger." This name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a fierce or wrathful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GRHAM can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Grame." This historical record provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name GRHAM appeared in various forms, such as "Graime" and "Grahame," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes.

The GRHAM surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One prominent individual was Sir John Grahame (c. 1548-1608), a Scottish statesman and diplomat who served as Lord Chancellor of Scotland under King James VI.

Another notable bearer of the GRHAM surname was James Grahame (1765-1811), a Scottish poet and writer best known for his work "The Sabbath," a contemplative poem on the sanctity of the Sabbath day.

In the 16th century, the GRHAM surname was also found in various place names across England and Scotland, such as Graham's Dike and Graham's Castle, reflecting the influence and landholdings of families bearing this surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRHAM surname in Scotland can be traced back to Sir William de Graham (c. 1275-1333), a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another notable figure was Dougal Graham (c. 1724-1779), a Scottish-American frontiersman and explorer who played a significant role in the early settlement of the American colonies, particularly in the region that is now known as West Virginia.

Over the centuries, the GRHAM surname has evolved and spread across various regions, with its bearers contributing to various fields, including politics, literature, and exploration. While the exact origins of this surname remain open to interpretation, its rich history and evolution reflect the diverse tapestry of cultural influences that have shaped the English language and its associated surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Graham

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Graham.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Graham was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Graham has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Graham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Graham, please contact us.

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