NameCensus.

UK surname

Grand

Derived from the Old French "grand," meaning "tall," "large," or "great," likely referring to a person's stature or importance.

In the 1881 census there were 319 people recorded with the Grand surname, ranking it #9,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 474, ranked #10,385, down from #9,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Honingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grand is 609 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

319

Ranked #9,326

Modern count

474

2016, ranked #10,385

Peak year

1861

609 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grand had 319 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016, ranked #10,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 609 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grand surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grand surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grand 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 609 #4,362
1881 historical 319 #9,326
1891 historical 506 #7,356
1901 historical 380 #9,823
1911 historical 436 #8,711
1997 modern 433 #10,375
1998 modern 459 #10,250
1999 modern 452 #10,422
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 438 #10,675
2003 modern 429 #10,684
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 442 #10,346
2006 modern 430 #10,624
2007 modern 429 #10,747
2008 modern 418 #11,083
2009 modern 436 #10,965
2010 modern 466 #10,595
2011 modern 452 #10,748
2012 modern 467 #10,384
2013 modern 470 #10,478
2014 modern 480 #10,405
2015 modern 489 #10,168
2016 modern 474 #10,385

Geography

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Where Grands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Honingham, Hempstead and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk and Norwich. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
3 Honingham Norfolk
4 Hempstead Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk
3 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk
4 Norwich 006 Norwich
5 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grand

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grand

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grand, 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 Grand surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Grand 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Grand is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grand is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grand falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grand is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grand

The surname Grand is of French origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "grant," which means "large" or "great." Originally, Grand was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was tall or imposing in stature.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Grand can be found in various historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries. In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to individuals with the surname Grand or similar variations, such as Grandi and Grandis.

One notable historical figure who bore the surname Grand was Jacques Grand, a French philosopher and theologian who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (1558-1634). He was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church and wrote several influential works on theology and philosophy.

Another individual of note was Francois Grand, a French artist and engraver who was active in the early 18th century (1680-1740). He is best known for his etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

In England, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Grand was John Grand, who was a landowner and nobleman in the county of Dorset during the 13th century. The Grand family was also associated with the village of Grand Court in Hampshire, which may have derived its name from the family's influence in the area.

The Grand surname can also be found in historical records from other parts of Europe, including Germany and Italy. In Germany, the name was often spelled as Grandt or Grändt, while in Italy, it appeared as Grandi or Grande.

Other notable individuals with the surname Grand include: - Pierre Grand (1546-1617), a French Jesuit theologian and writer. - Sarah Grand (1854-1943), an Irish novelist and feminist writer. - Robert Grand (1914-1996), an American actor and television director. - Michel Grand (born 1951), a French politician and member of the European Parliament.

While the surname Grand has been present throughout history, it is important to note that the information provided here is focused on the historical origins and early examples of the name, rather than modern census data or contemporary usage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grand 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. Norfolk leads with 163 Grands recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.96x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 163 33.96x
Surrey 30 1.97x
Middlesex 29 0.93x
Shropshire 15 5.56x
Kent 11 1.03x
Northumberland 11 2.37x
Yorkshire 10 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 9 4.55x
Durham 7 0.75x
Essex 7 1.14x
Lancashire 6 0.16x
Warwickshire 3 0.38x
Berkshire 2 0.85x
Devon 2 0.31x
Glamorgan 2 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.48x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.35x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.16x
Kincardineshire 1 2.63x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.29x
Morayshire 1 2.06x
Royal Navy 1 2.69x
Somerset 1 0.20x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 35 Grands recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.87x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 35 135.87x
Holt 14 853.66x
Shrewsbury St Mary 13 122.18x
Baconsthorpe 10 3225.81x
Honingham 10 2702.70x
Lambeth 10 3.67x
Corpusty 9 2250.00x
Matlask 8 4444.44x
Colton 7 2592.59x
Deptford St Paul 7 8.52x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 81.21x
North Walsham 7 202.31x
Elswick 6 16.19x
Cowpen 5 46.77x
Hackney London 5 2.86x
Hunworth 5 2173.91x
Penge 5 25.08x
Saxthorpe 5 1428.57x
Wandsworth 5 16.64x
Weybourne 5 2000.00x
Kensington London 4 2.30x
Marham 4 500.00x
Norwich St Peter 4 126.98x
St Pancras London 4 1.59x
West Herrington 4 123.08x
Wombwell 4 44.35x
Aston 3 1.38x
Camberwell 3 1.50x
Edmonton 3 11.93x
Great Yarmouth 3 7.55x
Hempstead 3 666.67x
Kirkdale 3 4.81x
Little Barningham 3 1363.64x
Newton 3 10.51x
Norwich St Helen 3 500.00x
Paddington London 3 2.61x
Aylsham 2 69.93x
Croydon 2 2.37x
Dawdon 2 17.51x
East Tuddenham 2 416.67x
Folkestone 2 9.68x
Holy Trinity 2 2.69x
Manningham 2 5.25x
Mile End New Town London 2 32.41x
Mortlake 2 29.50x
Norwich St Clement 2 35.97x
Norwich St Margaret 2 266.67x
Putney 2 14.05x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 29.99x
Snetterton 2 909.09x
Thetford St Mary 2 152.67x
Thorpe Next Norwich 2 39.29x
Wakes Colne 2 370.37x
West Ham 2 1.47x
Wickmere 2 769.23x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.85x
Burnham Westgate 1 96.15x
Cardiff St John 1 5.63x
Cardiff St Nicholas 1 270.27x
Fettercairn 1 61.73x
Hackford In Aylsham 1 116.28x
Heworth 1 5.46x
Lakenham 1 14.66x
Mansfield 1 6.87x
Marsham 1 169.49x
Norwich St Andrew 1 121.95x
Norwich St George Tombland 1 119.05x
Norwich St Stephen 1 22.68x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.92x
Ramsgate 1 5.75x
Scarborough 1 3.56x
Shoreditch London 1 0.74x
Tawstock 1 86.96x
Thorney 1 45.45x
West Bromwich 1 1.66x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.82x
Whitechapel London 1 3.25x
Whittlesey St Mary St 1 14.47x
Wilton In Guisbrough 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 16
Mary 14
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Harriet 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Anna 3
Annie 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Bessy 1
Betsy 1
Elizth 1
Emery 1
Evelina 1
F. 1
Fanny 1
Floria 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Katy 1
Letitia 1
Lorinea 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Magy 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
George 11
Henry 11
William 11
Alfred 10
Charles 10
Robert 10
James 8
Thomas 7
Richard 6
Edward 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 3
Arthur 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Abijah 1
Andrew 1
Barnard 1
Chas. 1
Federick 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
G.B. 1
Garrod 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hector 1
Herbert 1
Job 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Theophile 1
Willaim 1
Willie 1
Zacheus 1

FAQ

Grand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 319 people were recorded with the Grand surname. That placed it at #9,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016. That gives Grand a modern rank of #10,385.

What does the Grand surname mean?

Derived from the Old French "grand," meaning "tall," "large," or "great," likely referring to a person's stature or importance.

What does the Grand map show?

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