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Grayston Family History

Grayston Surname Meaning

In Suffolk, it may represent a pronunciation of Griston. In Lancs, it may sometimes be a variant of or confused with Grayson, a name recorded in, for example, Ormskirk where Grayston is also found.

From Middle English grai ‘grey’ + Middle English ston (northern stain) ‘stone’, or from a place so named, as for example Greystones in Haughton le Skerne (Durham), which is recorded as Greystone in 1380.

See Graveson.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Grayston family from?

You can see how Grayston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grayston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grayston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 141 Grayston families living in Lancashire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Grayston's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Grayston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grayston surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Grayston ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Grayston. 16% of Grayston men worked as a General Labourer and 87% of Grayston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grayston were Carpenter joiner and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Grayston | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Publican
    11%
  • Plumber Journeyman
    11%
  • Carpenter joiner
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Art Silk Weaver
    2%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Grayston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Grayston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grayston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grayston

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Grayston. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Grayston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 628 military records available for the last name Grayston. For the veterans among your Grayston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grayston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grayston family history

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What is the average Grayston lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2002, in the United States, Grayston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Grayston in 1950 was 72, and 92 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grayston

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grayston ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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