NameCensus.

UK surname

Grandfield

A French locational surname derived from the Grand Champ, meaning "great field".

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Grandfield surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber and Stoke St Gregory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Mid Devon and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grandfield is 232 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

1911

232 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grandfield had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grandfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grandfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Grandfield 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 194 #18,855
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 203 #19,504
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

Back to top

Where Grandfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber, Stoke St Gregory, St Philip and Jacob and Kentisbere, Blackborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Mid Devon, Wakefield and East Staffordshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber Somerset
3 Stoke St Gregory Somerset
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Kentisbere, Blackborough Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 013 Sedgemoor
2 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
3 Wakefield 034 Wakefield
4 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire
5 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Grandfield

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Grandfield

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Grandfield is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grandfield 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

Grandfield 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 Grandfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grandfield

The surname Grandfield is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Granfield or Grandfield, which can be found in various parts of England, such as Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, and Hertfordshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "grand" or "grene," meaning green, and "feld," meaning field, suggesting a connection to a green or verdant field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grandfield can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1198, where a person named William de Grenfeld is mentioned. This record indicates that the name was already in use during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Feet of Fines for Buckinghamshire in 1251, where it was recorded as "Grenfeld." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.

The Grandfield name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir Bevil Grandfield (1567-1637), an English soldier and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was John Grandfield (1701-1776), a British architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London.

In the late 18th century, a family of Grandfields gained recognition in the field of horticulture. William Grandfield (1762-1839) was a renowned gardener and nurseryman who introduced several new plant varieties to England. His son, Thomas Grandfield (1790-1868), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned botanist and horticulturist.

During the 19th century, the Grandfield name was also associated with academia. Samuel Grandfield (1822-1897) was a prominent English mathematician and professor at the University of Cambridge, while George Grandfield (1845-1918) was a respected classical scholar and headmaster of several prestigious schools in England.

While the Grandfield surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly due to migration and colonization. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to the name can be traced back to its English origins and the various individuals who have carried this surname over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Grandfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grandfield 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. Somerset leads with 46 Grandfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.08x.

County Total Index
Somerset 46 21.08x
Gloucestershire 28 10.53x
Glamorgan 13 5.51x
Middlesex 10 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 9 10.48x
Devon 9 3.19x
Kent 7 1.51x
Lincolnshire 7 3.23x
Hertfordshire 4 4.28x
Worcestershire 4 2.26x
Bedfordshire 1 1.42x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 25 Grandfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.84x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 25 99.84x
Bicknoller 14 9333.33x
Over Stowey 12 5000.00x
Llantwit Lower 9 434.78x
Wicken 9 2307.69x
Hackington St Stephen 7 2333.33x
Otterhampton 7 6363.64x
Stogumber 6 1034.48x
Eastham 4 2500.00x
Fulham London 4 20.35x
Hatfield 4 211.64x
Islington London 4 3.04x
Kentisbeare 4 1025.64x
St Swithin Lincoln 4 117.30x
Stoke St Gregory 4 606.06x
Loughor 3 240.00x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 192.31x
Uplyme 3 714.29x
Seaton 2 183.49x
Tormarton 2 1000.00x
Bristol St Paul In 1 14.12x
Cardington 1 175.44x
East Quantoxhead 1 909.09x
Nettlecombe 1 714.29x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.19x
St Pancras London 1 0.92x
Taplow 1 204.08x
Walcot 1 8.61x
Ystradyfodwg 1 4.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 6
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Kate 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Priscilla 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Harriete 1
Jessie 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Henry 9
John 8
Thomas 5
Charles 4
James 3
Albert 2
Francis 2
George 2
Hugh 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Barnet 1
Basil 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Jethro 1
Llywellyn 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Grandfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grandfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Grandfield surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grandfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Grandfield a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Grandfield surname mean?

A French locational surname derived from the Grand Champ, meaning "great field".

What does the Grandfield map show?

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