This surname may be extinct
Greatheed Surname Definition:
This surname is derived from a nickname. 'great head,' probably a translation of French Grossciesie, which see.
Agnes Gretheyed, Lincolnshire, Edward I.
Peter Gretheyed, Close Rolls, 17 Edward III.
Thomas Gretehed.
Read More About This SurnameGreatheed Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 5 | 1:4,875,074 | 116,529 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | 1:50,218,684 | 817,899 |
Greatheed Surname Meaning
From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history
This surname is derived from a nickname. 'great head,' probably a translation of French Grossciesie, which see.
Agnes Gretheyed, Lincolnshire, Edward I.
Peter Gretheyed, Close Rolls, 17 Edward III.
Thomas Gretehed. Rolls of Parliament.
Hugo Grethed, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.
Willelmus Gretehed, 1379: ibid.
1619. Marmaduke Greathead and Katherine Dorrell: Marriage Lic. (London).
1755. Married — Thomas Greathead and Ann Spray: St. George, Hanover Square.
Matthew Gietheuith or Greatheued was alderman and provost of Aberdeen between 1271 and 1281 (Friars, 13; REA., II, p. 279). In 1271 he appears as Matthew Grossetechte (for French Grosstete) and in a charter of c. 1281 (REA., II, p. 281) as Grethenith, an error for Gretheuith. John le fiz Walter Gretheuede, burgess of Peebles, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 198). John called Gretheuyd was a witness in 1343 (Melros, p. 457), and Walter dictus Gietheued was burgess of Aberdeen in 1345 (CAB., p. 318). Anne or Amie Greitheid was a follower of Campbell of Lundy in 1541 (RSS., II, 3666). compare Gaelic Canmore.
Apparently from the personal peculiarity. Robt. Grosteste, the celebrated bishop of Lincoln, sometimes so wrote his name.
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Greatheed Reference & Research
Greathead One-name Study - A profile of the Greathead surname with contact details for a researcher who collects any information pertaining to it.
Greathead FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.
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Footnotes
- Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
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