The Grants were originally yeomen farmers and have been on the Isle of Wight since the 16th century. John Grant born around 1530 married Agnes Downer in Northwood. They are mentioned in a Royal Survey of 1559/60 and the Lay Subsidy returns of 1565-71
Alice Grant, a widow of Northwood left a will dated 1558
William Grant was a rent collector of St Cross in 1525-26.
His son William Grant, born about 1525 married Christian Godbeyre in 1547 and Isbell Lovyn in1559. From 1573 to 1583 he held a property in Northwood called Dyrlinge.