Graham

(male) Transferred use of a Scottish surname, in origin a local name from Grantham in Lincolnshire. This is recorded in Domesday Book not only in its current form but also as Grandham, Granham, and Graham; it was apparently named as the ‘gravelly place’, from Old English grand ‘gravel’ + hām ‘homestead’. The surname was taken to Scotland in the 12th century by Sir William de Graham, founder of a famous clan. The earls of Montrose were among his descendants.