The name may contain Old English gāra in its original meaning of "spear" formed with graf apparently meaning wood, originally meaning "wood from which spear-shafts were cut".
ðə nˈeɪm mˈeɪ kəntˈeɪn ˈoʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ɡˈɑːɹɹə ɪn ɪts ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl mˈiːnɪŋ ʌv "spˈɪɹ" fˈɔːɹmd wɪð ɡɹˈæf ɐpˈæɹəntli mˈiːnɪŋ wˈʊd, ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli mˈiːnɪŋ "wˈʊd fɹʌm wˈɪtʃ spˈɪɹʃˈæfts wɜː kˈʌt".