English (Norfolk): occupational name for an engraver, from Middle English graver(e), grafer(e), gravo(u)r 'engraver, carver, sculptor', Old English grafere, græfere, Old French graveur.

Where do last names come from? Last names can be derived from occupations (e.g., Smith), locations (e.g., Hill), personal characteristics (e.g., Young), or paternal lineage (e.g., Johnson). In some cultures, surnames were assigned based on the father's name (e.g., O'Connor, meaning "son of Connor").

Graves is a surname of English origin. Its distribution within England is centered on Lincolnshire, followed in concentration by Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, and East Anglia.

The genealogy site Ancestry.com offers some basic information on the history of last names. The Oxford Reference Collection Online has a number of e-reference books that will have this type of information including A Dictionary of First Names. From our homepage use the Find a Database under the SuperSearch box.