GRACEY CERTIFICATE
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Gracey
"The Irish family name Gracey is classified as being of occupation name origin.
It can be said that the most ancient and most interesting of surnames are those
berived for the occupation of the original bearer. Occupational names have
provided what has been described by scholars as "an inventory of the common
trades of medieval Europe". Such names offer a glimpse into the daily lives of
our ancestors. With regard to the surname Gracey, this name was introduced to
Ireland as an abbreviated form of the Scottish surname Grassick, derived from
the Gaelic word "greusaich" meaning "shoemaker". The term "greusaich" in the
older language meant "decorator", "embroiderer". Alternatively, the Irish
surname Gracey is of personal name origin. Many family names are derived from
the personal name of the father or the mother of the initial bearer. In this
instance, the name is derived from the Middle English personal name Gracie,
signifying "son of Gracie". This personal name is derived from the Old French
"grace", from the Latin "gratia", meaning "grace, God's blessing". Variants of
the surname Gracey include Gracie, Gracy, Grace, Grece, Grecie and Grassie. One
of the earliest references to this name or to a variant is a record of one
*
Robertus
"Filius"
Grecie, residing in Suffolk, England, in 1188. However, research is on going
and this name may have been documented even earlier than the date indicated
above. Sir Oliver Grace, baron of Courtstown and Lord of Grace's country, Co.
Kilkenny, Ireland, was granted the coat of arms described below, which appears
on his monument in Jerpoint Abbey, Co. Kilkenny. The surname was introduced to
the United States as early as 1851, in which year we find a record of the
emigration of Pat Gracy, who departed London aboard the "Devonshire" and
arrived in New York, April 7, 1851."
I have copied everything from this certificate to the best of my ability.
*
Spelling of middle name is not clear to me. I apologize for any error
made.
Updated: January 03, 2000
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