Gracey Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Gracey Family History

Gracey Family History

The Gracey ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Gracey include Grace, Gras, Grass, Grassman, Grassie and Gracie. These names descend from Raymond le Gros, (or le Gras), who was one of the outstanding figures in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century. He married Strongbow's daughter and was Viceroy in 1176. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Roger le Gras, Wiltshire, and an Alan le Gras, Yorkshire, who were recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273. A Margery Grace was baptised in Saint James Clerkinwell in the year 1574. In Scotland a Alexander Grassie was a member of Huntly Volunteers in the year 1799, and a James Grassie published his 'Legends of the Highlands from oral tradition' in the year 1843. Their territory in Ireland was in County Kilkenny and was called Grace's Country. The Gracey family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Gracey descendants.