NameCensus.

UK surname

Grannell

An Old French surname meaning "large" or "barrel-shaped".

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Grannell surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 276, ranked #15,673, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Powys and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grannell is 281 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 666.7%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

276

2016, ranked #15,673

Peak year

2010

281 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grannell had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016, ranked #15,673.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Grannell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grannell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grannell 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 52 #30,061
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 248 #15,363
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 256 #15,557
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 253 #15,677
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 261 #15,216
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 271 #15,182
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 281 #15,441
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 276 #15,788
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 276 #15,673

Geography

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Where Grannells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Powys, Warrington and Salford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 017 Bolton
2 Powys 014 Powys
3 Warrington 005 Warrington
4 Salford 026 Salford
5 Salford 030 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grannell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grannell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Grannell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Grannell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Grannell 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

Grannell is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grannell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grannell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grannell

The surname Grannell has its origins in Ireland and dates back several centuries. It is believed to be an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Grannáin, which itself is derived from the personal name Grannán, meaning "ill-humored" or "morose."

Grannell is predominantly found in counties Longford and Westmeath, although it has also been recorded in other parts of Ireland. The earliest known reference to the name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century, which mentions a Conchobhar Ó Grannáin in the year 1174.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various legal documents and land records, often spelled as Grannan or Grannon. One notable example is the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which includes a grant of land to a Donyll O'Grannon in County Longford in 1592.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Grannell family played a prominent role in the history of Longford and Westmeath. In 1641, a Terence Grannell was among the signatories of the Catholic Remonstrance, a document expressing loyalty to the English Crown. Another member of the family, Patrick Grannell (born around 1700), was a prominent landowner and magistrate in County Longford.

The 19th century saw several individuals with the surname Grannell achieve distinction in various fields. One of the most notable was Charles Grannell (1817-1888), an Irish journalist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Longford from 1865 to 1880. Another notable figure was Michael Grannell (1834-1908), a Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname Grannell include John Grannell (1809-1879), an Irish-American businessman and politician in New York City, and Thomas Grannell (1838-1916), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who served as the first president of St. Bonaventure University in New York.

While the Grannell surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grannell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grannell 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. Lancashire leads with 22 Grannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 22 5.28x
Surrey 14 8.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 14 Grannells recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.42x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 14 62.42x
West Derby 9 73.83x
Liverpool 7 27.66x
Kirkdale 5 71.33x
Everton 1 7.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Amy 1
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

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 Grannell households.

FAQ

Grannell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grannell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Grannell surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grannell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 276 in 2016. That gives Grannell a modern rank of #15,673.

What does the Grannell surname mean?

An Old French surname meaning "large" or "barrel-shaped".

What does the Grannell map show?

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