Gracy Origins
Tom, I notice you have been puzzling for at least 5 years from your last mail.I too am an enthusiast researching all Gracey Gracie Gracy and other variants worldwide particularly for the last 2 years.I am not sure what you mean by ethnicities.The books and periodical articles by Gracys’ is small, mainly to do with or by a Gracy Texanand some french language titles, oh yes and one I have yet to read a Thos Gracy Ulster! my northern home. 1926.The spelling usually turns up wherever you have Graceys, and that’s many countries.I have found no link to religion or politics or country. My own line from Comber Co Down, signed themselves Gracy in the mid 1800s for awhile but other professionals eg solicitors, land agents, entered it often as Gracey. Most recently I am finding connections 1684 to Gracie or Gressie of Inch parish, near Stranraer, Scotland. This happened elsewhere in Co Downthe Ballyhosset Graceys etc, they probably came from Dumfries, much earlier than my line. Some of the earlier Gracy in Cameron Graceys Co Armagh line possibly changed their name to Gracey or Grayson, and Cameron keeps an open mind on whether the root could be English perhaps Norman French Gracy on Norman side in 1066 Battle of Hastings or Scottish. The earliest reference I have is for Annis Gracy in Chichester England 1612, and for Ireland 1663 Thomas gracy at Carrigans in Co Donegal Hearth Roll, and for Scotland, John Gracy in Glasgow m 1685. Alice Duggan Gracy's book The Gracy family..Texas 1986 has an interesting chapter on the history of the name concluding its most likely to be french. I personally think the spelling is simply arbitary, with some lines keeping or changing their spelling within one line of the family.The sound is Greusaich or Grassie see Black- Surnames of Scotland. Ihave notes covering many Gracy lines mainly from the internet and published books. Where does your line come from, I would be interested to explore further. Jim