NameCensus.

UK surname

Grabowski

A Polish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hornbeam tree" or "beech tree."

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Grabowski surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 610, ranked #8,601, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Charnwood and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grabowski is 610 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10066.7%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

610

2016, ranked #8,601

Peak year

2015

610 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grabowski had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 610 in 2016, ranked #8,601.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Grabowski surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grabowski surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grabowski 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
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 242 #16,050
2005 modern 281 #14,411
2006 modern 328 #13,073
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 423 #10,975
2009 modern 448 #10,719
2010 modern 504 #10,002
2011 modern 524 #9,625
2012 modern 578 #8,847
2013 modern 585 #8,902
2014 modern 609 #8,704
2015 modern 610 #8,635
2016 modern 610 #8,601

Geography

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Where Grabowskis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Charnwood, Lewisham, High Peak and Tunbridge Wells. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 009 Gwynedd
2 Charnwood 007 Charnwood
3 Lewisham 035 Lewisham
4 High Peak 012 High Peak
5 Tunbridge Wells 009 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grabowski

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grabowski

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grabowski, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Grabowski surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Grabowski household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Grabowski is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grabowski is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grabowski falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grabowski is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Grabowski

The surname Grabowski originated in Poland and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Polish word "grab," which means hornbeam or a type of tree. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a hornbeam grove or was associated with the wood from this tree.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Grabowski name can be found in a 14th-century document from the town of Krakow, where a person named Jan Grabowski was listed as a landowner. The name also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts from other regions of Poland, such as the area around modern-day Poznan.

In the 16th century, the Grabowski family gained prominence in the Polish nobility. Stanislaw Grabowski, born in 1542, was a notable figure who served as a diplomat and advisor to King Sigismund III Vasa. Another influential member of the family was Jakub Grabowski, who lived from 1609 to 1689 and was a respected military commander during the Polish-Swedish wars.

The Grabowski name has also been associated with several notable scholars and writers throughout history. Mikołaj Grabowski, born in 1781, was a renowned historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Poland. Bronisław Grabowski, born in 1841, was a renowned linguist and philologist who made significant contributions to the study of Slavic languages.

During the 19th century, the Grabowski surname spread beyond Poland due to emigration. One notable figure was Tadeusz Grabowski, born in 1871, who emigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in the Polish-American community in Chicago. He was an advocate for Polish independence and played a role in organizing support for the cause.

Another notable bearer of the Grabowski name was Maria Grabowski, a Polish activist and educator who lived from 1908 to 1988. She was involved in the Polish resistance movement during World War II and later worked tirelessly to promote education and cultural preservation among Polish communities abroad.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grabowski families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grabowski 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. Warwickshire leads with 6 Grabowskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.71x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 6 40.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 6 Grabowskis recorded in 1881 and an index of 147.78x.

Place Total Index
Aston 6 147.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Lily 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 1
Edwin 1
Herman 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Grabowski households.

FAQ

Grabowski surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grabowski surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Grabowski surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grabowski surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 610 in 2016. That gives Grabowski a modern rank of #8,601.

What does the Grabowski surname mean?

A Polish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "hornbeam tree" or "beech tree."

What does the Grabowski map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grabowski 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.