Gracian is Spanish for “Grace”. In the 1300s, individuals in the Spanish Jewish family of Shealtiel were given this name. This gave rise to a distinct family known as Gracian or Hen (the Hebrew for grace), joining with the Shealtiels in their traditional claim of descent from the Biblical King David.

The name then appears in the records of Aragon, north-eastern Spain until the Jews were expelled in 1492. After the 1390s, the family is found first throughout the Mediterranean and then in Europe and eventually wherever Europeans have settled.

The alternative spellings known to us are;

Gracian, Gracián, Graciani, Graciany, Grazian, Graziani, Graziany, Grazziani, Grazziany, Grasiany, Grasiani, Grassiani, Grasianni, Grassiany, Grassianny, Gratzyani, Gratziani, Gratsiani, Gratsiany, Gratsyani, Gratciani, Gracyani, Gratsani, Gratsiyani, Graziano, Grazziano, Grazianno, Graciano, Grasiano, Grassiano, Gracyano, Grasyano, Gratsiano, Gratian, Ghratyan, Gratianus, Gratianj, Gratianis, Grazianis, Gratiani, Gratiano, de Gratianis, Grasian, Grassian, Grassián and Grazianelli.

One derivation is Granot. Hen also appears as Chen and Chein.

The name also has an independent Tuscan origin. This dates from 1232, when Giacomo Graziani led the Florentine Republic.

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