UK surname
Italian surname derived from the Italian word "grano" meaning "grain" or "wheat".
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Gran surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Wick and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gran is 329 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.6%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1861
329 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gran surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gran 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 | 92 | #18,050 |
| 1861 | historical | 329 | #7,748 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 162 | #17,390 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 43 | #33,871 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Wick, Bingley, St Marylebone and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Markinch | Fife |
| 2 | Wick | Caithness |
| 3 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gran 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 Gran, 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 Gran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gran 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, Gran 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 Gran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gran, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRAN originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic word "grann," which means "ugly" or "ill-favored." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with an unattractive appearance.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname GRAN can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document mentions a "Johan le Graunt" from the county of Fife.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Grante, Graunt, and Graunte, in various Scottish charters and records. One notable individual was Sir John Grant, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 1300s.
The GRAN surname is also associated with several Scottish clan names, including the Clan Grant and the Clan Gregor. The Clan Grant is one of the most prominent Highland clans, with its ancestral lands located in Strathspey, Moray, and parts of Inverness-shire.
During the 16th century, the name spread beyond Scotland, and individuals with the surname GRAN can be found in various English records. One notable figure was William Grant, an English merchant and explorer who traveled to the Americas in the late 1500s and established trade routes with Native American tribes.
In the 17th century, the surname GRAN became more widespread across Europe, with individuals bearing the name found in various countries, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Ulrich Grant, a German composer and organist who lived from 1625 to 1693.
As the surname GRAN continued to spread across Europe and beyond, it also evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Grande, Grandt, and Grandis. These variations can be found in historical records from various countries, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural influences that shaped the name over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gran 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 21 Grans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 2.73x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 2.10x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 4.63x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.86x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 5.81x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 6.03x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.44x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 8.69x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 3.35x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.66x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.17x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.96x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cottingham in Yorkshire leads with 9 Grans recorded in 1881 and an index of 545.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cottingham | 9 | 545.45x |
| Charlton Kings | 7 | 666.67x |
| Bethnal Green London | 6 | 17.93x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 6 | 295.57x |
| St George Hanover Square | 6 | 44.22x |
| Nether Hallam | 5 | 48.40x |
| Dalston | 4 | 784.31x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 7.20x |
| Newington | 4 | 14.05x |
| St George In East London | 4 | 55.17x |
| Westminster St James | 4 | 50.51x |
| Duthil | 2 | 454.55x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.98x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.82x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.38x |
| Enfield | 1 | 19.80x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 32.36x |
| Great Driffield | 1 | 63.69x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 12.79x |
| Greenock Oldor West | 1 | 625.00x |
| Higher Bebington | 1 | 91.74x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 26.81x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 16.84x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 1 | 28.74x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.23x |
| Rugeley | 1 | 53.48x |
| Skipton | 1 | 41.67x |
| Stoke Edith | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Woodford | 1 | 58.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gran 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 Gran 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 Gran households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Assistant Laundress | 1 |
| Auctioneer Employing 3 Clerks | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Cashier Butchers | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer | 1 |
| Cigar Maker (Tobacco) | 1 |
| Cigarmaker | 1 |
| Com Clerk (Export Merchant) | 1 |
| Cotton Card Grinder | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Dairymans Asst | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gardener N D | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Gilder | 1 |
| Groom N D | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Nursemaid | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher School | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Servant Genl | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Steward (Ship) | 1 |
| Table Knife Hafter | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Telegraph Clerk (CS) | 1 |
| Undertakers Coachman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Gran surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Gran a modern rank of #33,700.
Italian surname derived from the Italian word "grano" meaning "grain" or "wheat".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gran 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.