There are two possible origins for this name, both French and both introduced by the Normans after 1066. The first is locational from the village of Greville, near La Hogue, Normandy, and this seems the most possible, however it is also possible that the name descends from the word for a Baililt - Grieve with the 'ell' meaning son of the Grieve. Although if this is the case, we have not been able to establish any recordings before the 17th century. The plural when it occurs is probably a patronymic meaning "son of Gravell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Grevel which was dated 1356 - 1401, Wool Merchant, Gloucester during the reign of King Edward III, The Father of the Navy, 1327 - 1377 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.