Surname Grais - Meaning and Origin
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Grais: What does the surname Grais mean?
The last name Grais is an interesting and unique name with a few different origin possibilities. It may be derived from the German word ‘grais’, meaning ‘gray or grey’ and is likely to be from an occupational surname, referring to a person who dyed fabrics. This could also refer to a person who tended gray-colored horses. Alternatively, it could be a variant of the German ‘Graebs’, which derived from the German word ‘grab’ which means ‘trench’ or ‘grave’ and may have been an occupational name for someone working as a trench digger or grave digger.
The name Grais can be found in records dating back to the 1400s, when it was a surname found mainly in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is also said to be derived from the Old French ‘graces’, which may refer to someone who believed in spiritual matters or had a high religious morality.
The name Grais is still found in the modern day around the world, particularly around the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Historically, the name has been found at the highest concentration in Germany, with more than a million people bearing the name. It is also found in other countries such as the United States of America, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisGrais: Where does the name Grais come from?
The last name Grais is most commonly found in France today. It is a relatively common surname in the country, ranking as the 1,273rd most common surname for French citizens.
The origin of the name is derived from the Middle English word 'gras', which means 'grass', most likely referencing someone of agricultural origin. The term could have been used to refer to people who farmed grasslands or lauded grassy or marshy areas of land.
The name exists in many variants around the world, such as Grais, Graise, Grees, Graize, and Grays. It can also be found in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, amongst others.
It is estimated that the Grais family living in France can trace its roots back to the 15th century. During this time, members of the Grais family migrated to the country from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. It is from this period that the surname spread throughout the country, and today, it remains a common surname in French culture.
Variations of the surname Grais
The surname Grais is an uncommon surname, mostly found in Europe. It can have many variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include: Grays, Grass, Greis, Graiss, Graise, Graes, Gras, Grove, Gres, Gries, Gris et cetera.
Grais is likely derived from Old French “gras”, which means “fat”, or “gros”, which means “large”. It may have originally been a descriptive name for a large and fat person. The name could also come from a place name, derived from the Old French word “grès” meaning “gravel” or “sand”, or from the Old French “Gresce” meaning “Greece”. It could also have been used as a nickname for someone from a Latin country, such as Greece.
The surname Grais is believed to originate mainly from the regions of France and Germany. In France, it might also be a form of the name Grasse, in which case the origin would be from the name of the Provençal city in France, Grasses. In Germany, it could be a variant of Greis, which is derived from the Old High German word “graso” or “grîsso”, both meaning greasy or fat.
Another spelling of Grais is Griess, which can also have many variants. Variants of Griess may include Greiss, Griesse, Greisse, Grieser, Griser and Greisler. These names are possibly derived from the Middle High German word “grîso” which means “gray”. It could have also been used as a descriptive name for someone with gray hair, or could have been given as an occupational name to someone who dyed fabric gray.
Overall, the surname Grais has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, each with a unique history and meaning.
Famous people with the name Grais
- Salim Grais: Salim is a French football player best known for playing for Ligue 2 club Le Havre AC.
- Lukasz Grais: Lukasz is a Polish actor who has appeared in both Polish and US films and television shows.
- Ilan Grais: Ilan is an Israeli film director and screenwriter who is best known for the award-winning film A Strange Love Affair.
- Barak Grais: Barak is an Israeli singer and artist who rose to fame after his performances on Israeli reality TV show, Kochav Nolad.
- Shai Grais: Shai is a former Israeli soldier who is best known for his work in peace-building and conflict resolution initiatives.
- Hagay Grais: Hagay is an Israeli tech entrepreneur and investor who founded various startups and was involved in the selling of the tech company “Wix”.
- Sarel Grais: Sarel is an Ethiopean-born abstract painter and printmaker who has received various awards and honors for his artwork.
- Seyi Grais: Seyi is a British Nigerian Olympic sprinter who has competed in various international competitions and won several medals.
- Yoel Grais: Yoel is an American composer and musician who is best known for his synth-pop and chill wave tunes.
- Isabelle Grais: Isabelle is a French fashion designer and stylist who has lent her eye for fashion to many prominent brands and celebrities.