Welcome to the Worldwide Greathead family my One-Name Study - Variations of the name GREATHEAD

I believe there are several proven variations:

GREATHEED - This variant seem to contain several clerical people, so were a well educated family. Samuel Greatheed born in 1690 in Beeston, Leeds, Yorkshire was the earliest I have found who used this variant. Following the families they seem to die out in early 1920's. Few children seem to have been born in the later generation. Whether the name started through dialect or miss spelling I have yet to discover

GREATHED - The first time I find the name spelt Greathed is with John and Thomas son of John and Ann Greathead née Wilberforce They had three children Sarah, Edward and Mary. Sarah died a spinster. Mary married Edward Harris and they had to my knowledge four sons and one daughter. One son was called Edward Harris and was possibly the eldest. Edward married twice but had no children and he left his estates in Lincoln and Dorset to his nephew Edward Harris on the understanding he changed his surname to Greathed.

I found his will which is a fantastic 63 pages long at the National Archives (TNA) when I was searching for Greathead wills.

This is the military twig of the family, many attended Eton College and their surname varies between the conventional Greathead and the variant Greathed. One couple are reported to have attended the Waterloo ball.

The family seem to come from Edward Greathead born about 1585 and taking holy orders and ending up as Rector of South Willingham, he had amongst his children a son called Edward who also took holy orders, his grandson another Edward fathered the above named John

It is believed that The Greathed's and the Greated's were all part of the one family until two members quarrelled (usual story) one then went off and removed the H. Initially they had all removed the second A according to a letter Grace wife of Neville Greated wrote to Dr Clive Greated in Edinburgh

My theory is that they dropped the "a" maybe through snobbish reasons, but maybe I will have to eat my theory when I eventually find out.

Do YOU know anything about them?

GREATED - I know very little about how this variant came about. The earliest entry I found was Timothy who married Ann Nay in Fleet Prison. They had a son Joseph who married Ann. I found his name on the will index in First Avenue. He died in 1818 and his will was proved in 27 February 1818 in Holborn, London. They had four children Timothy, Joseph, Ann and another son. See chart for details

I have followed some members of the family through census returns but loose them before too long. There were many girls born to this branch and few of them married. The family seemed to stay in London.

James W Greated went off to Ireland and was caught up in many of the battles, loosing some of his cattle and land and having his house burned to the ground

I have recently managed to make contact with a current member of this branch and hope to find out more.

It is believed that The Greathed's and the Greated's were all part of the one family until two members quarrelled (usual story) one then went off and removed the H. Initially they had all removed the second A according to a letter Grace wife of Neville Greated wrote to Dr Clive Greated in Edinburgh

Can YOU tell me more about this twig?

 

GREETHEAD - This variant seem to have originated in the Bristol area, and my belief is it is through the Somerset dialect.

The earliest Greethead that I have found is James his ancestors were peruke (wig) makers and cordwainers (shoe not bootmakers, and many made other goods out of leather) and I wonder whether there is some Huguenot ancestry there.

Henry travelled to New South Wales, Australia with his wife and their small children. With the help of some members of the family in Australia I have discovered much of the family.

What happened to those that stayed behind?

There are several Greethead birth, deaths and marriages in Australia I have yet to link

GRATEHEAD - This was a late discovery but a definite Greathead variant.  More news to come..................