NameCensus.

UK surname

Grabham

An English surname derived from the village of Grapenhall, Cheshire.

In the 1881 census there were 372 people recorded with the Grabham surname, ranking it #8,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 603, ranked #8,687, down from #8,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Buckland St Mary, Wellington and Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Taunton Deane and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grabham is 681 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.1%.

1881 census count

372

Ranked #8,399

Modern count

603

2016, ranked #8,687

Peak year

1998

681 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grabham had 372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016, ranked #8,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 577 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grabham surname distribution map

The map shows where the Grabham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Grabham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grabham over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 267 #8,342
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 372 #8,399
1891 historical 447 #8,115
1901 historical 463 #8,526
1911 historical 577 #7,046
1997 modern 639 #7,763
1998 modern 681 #7,638
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 676 #7,695
2001 modern 672 #7,595
2002 modern 666 #7,805
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 635 #7,972
2005 modern 613 #8,142
2006 modern 619 #8,089
2007 modern 621 #8,140
2008 modern 619 #8,210
2009 modern 649 #8,085
2010 modern 645 #8,294
2011 modern 636 #8,302
2012 modern 627 #8,308
2013 modern 623 #8,492
2014 modern 619 #8,588
2015 modern 615 #8,556
2016 modern 603 #8,687

Geography

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Where Grabhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Buckland St Mary, Wellington, Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset), Ilminster and Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Taunton Deane and South Somerset. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Buckland St Mary Somerset
2 Wellington Somerset
3 Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset) Devon
4 Ilminster Somerset
5 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
2 Taunton Deane 014 Taunton Deane
3 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane
4 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
5 South Somerset 019 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grabham

These lists show first names that appear often with the Grabham surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grabham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grabham, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Grabham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Grabham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Grabham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grabham is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grabham falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grabham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Grabham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grabham

The surname GRABHAM is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Grebham or Grayham in Lincolnshire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "grēg" meaning "gray" and "hām" meaning "homestead" or "village."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname GRABHAM can be found in the parish records of Grebham, Lincolnshire, from the year 1592. This record refers to a John Grabham, who was likely born in the mid-16th century. The name was also found in nearby villages such as Grayingham and Grainsby, suggesting that the surname was initially concentrated in this region of Lincolnshire.

In the 17th century, the GRABHAM surname started to appear in other parts of England. For instance, a William Grabham was recorded in the parish records of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London, in 1635. This might indicate that some members of the family had migrated to the capital city during this period.

One notable figure with the surname GRABHAM was Sir John Grabham, who was born in Lincolnshire in 1620 and became a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament for the borough of Great Grimsby. He served as a judge and was appointed to the King's Bench in 1676, a position he held until his death in 1708.

Another individual of note was Reverend Michael Grabham, born in 1687 in Lincolnshire. He was an Anglican clergyman and served as the Rector of Alburgh, Norfolk, from 1718 until his death in 1743.

In the 18th century, the GRABHAM surname can be found in various records across England, including the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Lambeth, London, which mention a Thomas Grabham in 1732.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in North America is that of William Grabham, who was born in England in 1740 and later emigrated to Virginia, where he is documented in census records from the late 18th century.

By the 19th century, the GRABHAM surname had spread across different parts of the world, including Australia and New Zealand. One notable individual from this period was Henry Grabham, a British architect born in 1839, who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grabham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grabham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 144 Grabhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.59x.

County Total Index
Somerset 144 24.59x
Devon 51 6.73x
Durham 41 3.79x
Yorkshire 28 0.78x
Surrey 23 1.30x
Middlesex 18 0.49x
Northumberland 18 3.32x
Kent 14 1.13x
Dorset 12 5.03x
Northamptonshire 7 2.05x
Essex 4 0.56x
Glamorgan 4 0.63x
Gloucestershire 2 0.28x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.18x
Hertfordshire 1 0.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Oxfordshire 1 0.45x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilminster in Somerset leads with 40 Grabhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 978.00x.

Place Total Index
Ilminster 40 978.00x
Halberton 23 1306.82x
Bishopwearmouth 18 19.37x
Buckland St Mary 16 2105.26x
Minster In Sheppey 13 63.20x
Wellington 11 138.54x
Stokesley 10 444.44x
Chardstock 9 545.45x
Thames Ditton 9 244.57x
Chard 7 98.73x
Farway 7 1944.44x
Irthlingborough 7 208.33x
Lambeth 7 2.21x
Pontefract 7 90.09x
Ruishton 7 1186.44x
Taunton St James 7 81.97x
Cramlington 6 83.92x
Dunster 6 428.57x
Jesmond 6 78.74x
Staple Fitzpaine 6 2608.70x
Stockton On Tees 6 11.50x
Yarcombe 6 689.66x
Ashbrittle 5 1063.83x
Crossgate 5 105.71x
Gateshead 5 6.17x
Greatham 5 543.48x
Ilton 5 909.09x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 15.47x
Otterford 5 1000.00x
Spitalfields London 5 18.27x
St Pancras London 5 1.71x
Upottery 5 549.45x
Leeds 4 1.96x
Rochford 4 191.39x
Shoreditch London 4 2.54x
Curland 3 1304.35x
Honiton 3 71.60x
Kingstone 3 1071.43x
Llantrisant 3 18.79x
North Curry 3 150.75x
Penge 3 12.91x
Taunton St Mary 3 27.91x
Wilton 3 197.37x
Bampton 2 86.21x
Evershot 2 322.58x
Hemyock 2 176.99x
Methley 2 39.37x
Pitminster 2 116.28x
Reigate Foreign 2 10.42x
Richmond 2 35.52x
St Peter Cheesehill 2 190.48x
Staplegrove 2 281.69x
Stoke Newington London 2 7.06x
Trent 2 344.83x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 42.37x
Beaminster 1 37.74x
Bedminster 1 1.82x
Bloxham 1 45.45x
Bristol St Peter 1 39.22x
Churchstanton 1 107.53x
Clifton 1 2.77x
Curry Rivell 1 51.02x
Devonport 1 11.49x
Durham St Nicholas 1 37.59x
Elswick 1 2.31x
Greenwich 1 1.73x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Isle Abbotts 1 232.56x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Leatherhead 1 22.52x
Llanwonno 1 4.39x
Nether Hallam 1 2.05x
Offwell 1 243.90x
Repton 1 46.51x
Seavington St Mary 1 263.16x
St Margaret Lincoln 1 192.31x
West Bromwich 1 1.42x
West Buckland 1 88.50x
Weybridge 1 26.32x
York St Denis In 1 63.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grabham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 30
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 12
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Emma 8
Emily 6
Margaret 6
Ann 5
Annie 5
Louisa 5
Martha 4
Rebecca 4
Alice 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Prudence 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Elizth. 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Bessy 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Daisy 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizh. 1
Eve 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Harriott 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grabham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 24
William 19
James 18
George 13
Thomas 13
Charles 8
Robert 8
Abraham 7
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Richd. 2
Wm. 2
Arther 1
Augustus 1
Christopher 1
Christph. 1
Conway 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Oxey 1
Slidney 1
T. 1
Walter 1
Will 1
Wm.Thomas 1

FAQ

Grabham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grabham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 372 people were recorded with the Grabham surname. That placed it at #8,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grabham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016. That gives Grabham a modern rank of #8,687.

What does the Grabham surname mean?

An English surname derived from the village of Grapenhall, Cheshire.

What does the Grabham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grabham bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.