Grace (English)
Where does "Grace" come from?
The name 'Grace' was adopted from the English noun 'grace', popularized by Puritans in the 16th century and sometimes used by Roman Catholics in reference to Our Lady of Graces[1]. The noun itself entered Middle English from Old French 'grace'[2]. Its lineage goes back to the Latin noun 'grātia', meaning 'kindness, favour, esteem', derived from 'grātus', meaning 'pleasing'[2]. Ultimately, it traces to the Proto-Indo-European root '*gʷerH-', meaning 'to praise, welcome'[2].
Open questions
- The ultimate Proto-Indo-European root '*gʷerH-' is an unattested, reconstructed ancestral form. [2]
Full etymology tree
- Grace (English), 'A female given name from English.'
- derived grace (English), 'Charming, pleasing qualities.'
- inherited grace (Middle English), 'various (Christian) theological meanings, usually as an attribute of God:'
- borrowed grace (Old French), 'grace; favor'
- derived gratia (Latin), 'grace'
- derived gratus (Latin), 'pleasing, acceptable, agreeable, welcome'
- inherited *gʷerH- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to express approval; praise'
- derived gratus (Latin), 'pleasing, acceptable, agreeable, welcome'
- derived gratia (Latin), 'grace'
- borrowed grace (Old French), 'grace; favor'
- inherited grace (Middle English), 'various (Christian) theological meanings, usually as an attribute of God:'
- derived grace (English), 'Charming, pleasing qualities.'
Descendants and derived words
- Grace Estate (English)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris