Family legend has it that the name Graves derives from Greaves (a farmer) or from the occupation of Grave digger.
A person called "Graves" was in service to an English officer who was sent north to duty at a Martello Tower in Scotland during the Napoleonic wars. The Glasgow family of Graves are said to be his descendants. William Miller Graves emigrated to South Africa in the 1930's and his son, Robert McGibbon Graves lives there today.
other possible versions of this surname
links
- http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/gg/graves1.php (membership required to view without interruption)