UK surname
A surname of Slavic origin meaning a fortress or fortified town.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Grad surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Minster, Paddington and Symondsbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grad is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 368.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grad surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grad surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 2 | #33,133 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 46 | #30,657 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 27 | #35,224 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 39 | #34,652 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Minster, Paddington, Symondsbury, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minster | Kent |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | Symondsbury | Dorset |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grad surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grad, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Grad surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grad household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Grad is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grad, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRAD is of German origin, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "grod," meaning "overgrown" or "grassy area," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a grassy or overgrown region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 14th century. In this document, a certain "Johannes Grod" is mentioned as a landowner in the town of Rathenow.
Another notable mention of the name GRAD is in the Liber Censuum, a census-like record kept by the Catholic Church in the 13th century, where a "Petrus de Grod" is listed as a tenant farmer in the Diocese of Cologne.
As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it also adopted various spellings, such as Grodt, Grod, and Grode. These variations can be found in various historical records, including parish registers and town chronicles.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hans Grad (c. 1450-1520), a merchant and alderman in the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg, who played a significant role in the city's governance and trade relations.
In the 16th century, Johannes Grad (1520-1589) was a Lutheran theologian and reformer from Saxony, known for his writings on religious doctrine and his involvement in the Protestant Reformation.
During the 17th century, Caspar Grad (1615-1677) was a renowned German painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and depictions of biblical scenes.
In the 18th century, Johann Gottlieb Grad (1755-1826) was a German mathematician and astronomer, best known for his contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and his work on the theory of planetary motion.
Another notable figure was Karl Grad (1842-1907), a German architect and urban planner who designed several significant buildings in Berlin and other cities during the late 19th century.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname GRAD throughout history, showcasing its German roots and presence across various regions and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grad surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 4 Grads recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 4 | 4.56x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 2.88x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 15.20x |
| Surrey | 1 | 2.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aldingham in Lancashire leads with 3 Grads recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aldingham | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 93.17x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 17.86x |
| Earley | 1 | 909.09x |
| St Augustine Watling | 1 | 0.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Grad households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| (General) Clerk | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Navy Pensioner | 1 |
| Publicans Serv | 1 |
| Wholesale Draper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Grad surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Grad a modern rank of #33,377.
A surname of Slavic origin meaning a fortress or fortified town.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grad bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.