UK surname
A nickname derived from the Old Norse word "gramr," meaning "fierce" or "angry," likely referring to a warrior.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Gram surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, St Pancras and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gram is 150 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.4%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1861
150 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gram surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gram surname density by area, 1891 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 | 47 | #24,810 |
| 1861 | historical | 150 | #15,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 26 | #31,152 |
| 1911 | historical | 62 | #26,622 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, St Pancras, St Philip and Jacob, Lanteglos by Fowey and Charton-next-Woolwich. 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 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Lanteglos by Fowey | Cornwall |
| 5 | Charton-next-Woolwich | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gram 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 Gram, 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 Gram surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gram 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, Gram 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 Gram is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gram, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "GRAM" has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Norway. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "gramr," which means "angry" or "fierce." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone with a fierce or aggressive demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "GRAM" can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of narratives written in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the Saga of Grettir the Strong, there is a character named Gram Gunnarsson, who lived in the late 10th century.
The name "GRAM" was also present in medieval Denmark. In the Annals of Roskilde, a chronicle written in the 13th century, there is mention of a man named Niels Gram, who lived in the late 12th century and served as a canon in the city of Roskilde.
During the Renaissance period, the name "GRAM" gained prominence in Denmark. One notable individual was Hans Gram (1518-1578), a Danish humanist scholar and historian who wrote extensively about Danish history and culture.
In the 17th century, the name "GRAM" spread to other parts of Scandinavia and Europe. A prominent figure was Jens Gram (1637-1700), a Norwegian theologian and bishop who played a significant role in the reformation of the Danish-Norwegian church.
Another notable bearer of the name was Jens Dolmer Gram (1770-1841), a Danish philologist and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Old Norse and Icelandic literature. He published several works on Norse mythology and language.
In the 19th century, the name "GRAM" gained recognition in the field of archaeology. Jens Jacob Asmussen Gram (1838-1923) was a Danish archaeologist and curator who made important discoveries related to the Viking Age and Bronze Age in Denmark.
While the name "GRAM" has its roots in Scandinavia, it has spread to other parts of the world over time. One famous bearer of this surname was Hans Gram (1853-1938), a Norwegian-American artist and painter who was known for his landscape and marine paintings.
The surname "GRAM" has a rich history and has been borne by numerous notable individuals throughout the centuries, particularly in Scandinavia and Denmark. From scholars and theologians to archaeologists and artists, the name has left its mark across various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gram 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. Durham leads with 9 Grams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 9 | 9.41x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 16.83x |
| Banffshire | 4 | 59.97x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.24x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.25x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.41x |
| Fife | 1 | 5.25x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.91x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.96x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.09x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 3.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 9 Grams recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gateshead | 9 | 125.70x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 6 | 68.97x |
| Boyndie | 4 | 1818.18x |
| Sheffield | 4 | 39.41x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 11.09x |
| Carmichael | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 34.13x |
| Fenwick | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Kington Langley | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Lydd | 1 | 434.78x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 37.31x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 8.45x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gram 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 Gram 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 Gram households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab Indoor | 1 |
| Bankers Clerk | 1 |
| Boiler Smith | 1 |
| Boiler Smith Apprentice | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coal Miners Son | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draughtman (Artzn) | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Fancy Hosiery Hand | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Mender Hosiery | 1 |
| Moulder (Iron) | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Spring K Cutler | 1 |
| Stonemason Apprentice | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Gram surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Gram a modern rank of #35,162.
A nickname derived from the Old Norse word "gramr," meaning "fierce" or "angry," likely referring to a warrior.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gram 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.