NameCensus.

UK surname

Granfield

A topographic surname referring to someone living near an expansive field.

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Granfield surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, down from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Girton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, East Northamptonshire and Daventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Granfield is 196 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1861

196 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Granfield had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 196 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Granfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Granfield surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Granfield 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 136 #19,601
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

Back to top

Where Granfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Girton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Wicken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, East Northamptonshire, Daventry and Pembrokeshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Girton Cambridgeshire
4 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
5 Wicken Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 007 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 East Northamptonshire 007 East Northamptonshire
3 Daventry 008 Daventry
4 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
5 Pembrokeshire 001 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Granfield

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Granfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Granfield, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Granfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Granfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Granfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Granfield is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Granfield falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Granfield 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 Granfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Granfield

The surname Granfield is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "gran" meaning grain and "feld" meaning field, suggesting an association with someone who lived or worked on a grain field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and settlements compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a individual named Gerardus de Granvilla, which could be an early spelling variation of Granfield.

During the 13th century, the Granfield name appeared in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273. These documents mention individuals with the surname Granfeld or Granvill, likely referring to the same family line.

In the 14th century, the name Granfield was associated with several notable figures. William Granfeld (c. 1320 - 1380) was a prominent English cleric who served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1370 until his death. Additionally, John Granfield (c. 1350 - 1415) was a respected lawyer and legal scholar who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry IV.

The 16th century saw the emergence of another prominent figure bearing the Granfield surname. Sir Richard Granfield (c. 1510 - 1580) was a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1573. He was also a benefactor of various charitable causes and played a significant role in the development of the city.

In the 18th century, the Granfield name was associated with the renowned poet and playwright, Thomas Granfield (1735 - 1810). His works, which included satirical pieces and comedies, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and influenced the literary landscape of the era.

As the centuries progressed, the Granfield surname continued to be represented in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts. Notable individuals include Sir Henry Granfield (1820 - 1895), a distinguished scholar and educator who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, and Emily Granfield (1867 - 1942), a celebrated artist renowned for her landscape paintings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Granfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Granfield 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. Middlesex leads with 23 Granfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 23 3.10x
Kent 9 3.56x
Yorkshire 9 1.23x
Glamorgan 7 5.42x
Northamptonshire 4 5.74x
Surrey 4 1.11x
Lincolnshire 3 2.53x
Midlothian 3 3.02x
Somerset 3 2.51x
Berkshire 2 3.60x
Gloucestershire 2 1.38x
Hampshire 2 1.32x
Lancashire 2 0.23x
Sussex 2 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 1 2.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Enfield in Middlesex leads with 11 Granfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 226.34x.

Place Total Index
Enfield 11 226.34x
Bradford 7 39.37x
Shoreditch London 7 21.79x
Ystradyfodwg 6 53.00x
Lee 5 136.24x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 199.01x
Hackney London 3 7.22x
South Leith 3 26.86x
Wandsworth 3 42.08x
Brighton 2 7.93x
Glastonbury 2 206.19x
Islington London 2 2.78x
Newbury 2 112.36x
Newton 2 29.50x
Northampton All Sts 2 84.39x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 119.76x
Bath St James 1 80.65x
Bristol St Augustine 1 42.55x
Bristol St George 1 14.88x
Coedfrank 1 112.36x
Downham 1 200.00x
Holdenhurst 1 25.13x
Leeds 1 2.41x
Newington 1 3.65x
Oundle 1 128.21x
St Helens 1 90.91x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 53.76x
Warmsworth 1 909.09x
Yarwell 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
James 4
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
John 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Granfield 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wiliam 1

Top occupations

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 Granfield households.

FAQ

Granfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Granfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Granfield surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Granfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Granfield a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Granfield surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near an expansive field.

What does the Granfield map show?

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