NameCensus.

UK surname

Grantham

A locational surname referring to a person from Grantham, a town in Lincolnshire, England, derived from Old English elements.

In the 1881 census there were 1,835 people recorded with the Grantham surname, ranking it #2,370 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,816, ranked #2,399, down from #2,370 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Cheshire East and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grantham is 2,942 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.5%.

1881 census count

1,835

Ranked #2,370

Modern count

2,816

2016, ranked #2,399

Peak year

2010

2,942 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grantham had 1,835 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,370 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,816 in 2016, ranked #2,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,713 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grantham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grantham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grantham 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 1,103 #2,547
1861 historical 1,265 #2,254
1881 historical 1,835 #2,370
1891 historical 2,165 #2,161
1901 historical 2,400 #2,269
1911 historical 2,713 #1,908
1997 modern 2,799 #2,302
1998 modern 2,938 #2,292
1999 modern 2,916 #2,323
2000 modern 2,883 #2,337
2001 modern 2,829 #2,323
2002 modern 2,866 #2,343
2003 modern 2,798 #2,347
2004 modern 2,797 #2,350
2005 modern 2,731 #2,368
2006 modern 2,709 #2,387
2007 modern 2,745 #2,386
2008 modern 2,775 #2,382
2009 modern 2,880 #2,342
2010 modern 2,942 #2,346
2011 modern 2,895 #2,347
2012 modern 2,822 #2,367
2013 modern 2,844 #2,390
2014 modern 2,850 #2,393
2015 modern 2,838 #2,388
2016 modern 2,816 #2,399

Geography

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Where Granthams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Paddington and Wilmslow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Cheshire East and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wilmslow Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 002 East Lindsey
2 Cheshire East 012 Cheshire East
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 012 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 016 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grantham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grantham

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

Grantham 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

Grantham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Grantham

The surname Grantham originated in England in the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "gran" meaning grain and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement, essentially describing a homestead where grain was grown.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Grantham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented the manor of Grantham held by the King. The first recorded spelling of the surname itself is believed to be that of William de Grantham, who was documented in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176.

The Grantham family played a significant role in the history of Lincolnshire, with several notable members. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Grantham (c. 1300 - c. 1370), a knight and landowner who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1350. Another notable figure was Sir William Grantham (c. 1535 - 1612), a member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1592.

During the English Civil War, the name Grantham was associated with the Parliamentarian cause. Captain Thomas Grantham (c. 1610 - 1692) was a prominent military leader who fought for the Parliamentarians and later served as a member of the Council of State under Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, Thomas Grantham (1683 - 1756) was a renowned mathematician and author of several influential works on navigation and gunnery. His son, Thomas Grantham (1713 - 1774), followed in his footsteps as a mathematician and was also a noted author on navigation and astronomy.

Another notable figure was Sir Fletcher Norton Grantham (1734 - 1789), a British politician and lawyer who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1770 to 1789. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the American Revolution and the constitutional relationship between Britain and its colonies.

The surname Grantham has also been associated with various places, such as the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, which has been called "the Gateway to the East Midlands." Other places with variations of the name include Grantham Creek in Georgia, USA, and Grantham Township in Ontario, Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grantham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grantham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 312 Granthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.85x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 312 10.85x
Yorkshire 306 1.72x
Middlesex 195 1.08x
Surrey 178 2.03x
Lancashire 143 0.67x
Warwickshire 111 2.45x
Cheshire 106 2.67x
Oxfordshire 56 5.04x
Kent 44 0.72x
Worcestershire 40 1.70x
Berkshire 39 2.89x
Hampshire 39 1.06x
Staffordshire 38 0.63x
Northamptonshire 32 1.89x
Nottinghamshire 31 1.28x
Buckinghamshire 30 2.76x
Sussex 25 0.82x
Essex 15 0.42x
Northumberland 14 0.52x
Derbyshire 11 0.39x
Devon 9 0.24x
Bedfordshire 8 0.86x
Hertfordshire 8 0.65x
East Lothian 7 2.94x
Gloucestershire 7 0.20x
Angus 6 0.36x
Leicestershire 6 0.30x
Channel Islands 4 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.62x
Somerset 3 0.10x
Denbighshire 2 0.29x
Dorset 2 0.17x
Durham 2 0.04x
Flintshire 2 0.41x
Wiltshire 2 0.13x
Banffshire 1 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.47x
Rutland 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cottingham in Yorkshire leads with 59 Granthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 153.57x.

Place Total Index
Cottingham 59 153.57x
Birmingham 34 2.25x
Kensington London 28 2.80x
Louth 28 42.48x
Paddington London 28 4.23x
St Pancras London 27 1.86x
Holy Trinity 26 6.06x
Aston 25 2.00x
Sculcoates 24 8.49x
Altrincham 23 33.15x
Hornsea 20 176.99x
Battersea 19 2.87x
Sheffield 19 3.35x
West Keal 18 792.95x
Lower Heyford 17 526.32x
Catwick 16 958.08x
Preston 15 2.63x
Leatherhead 14 63.78x
Nottingham St Mary 14 2.23x
St Mark Lincoln 14 228.01x
Sutton Stoneferry 14 27.45x
Fulstow 13 376.81x
Norton Canes 13 58.74x
St Marylebone London 13 1.35x
Chester St Oswald 12 16.69x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 3.54x
Coston Hackett 12 1034.48x
Croydon 12 2.47x
Kingston On Thames 12 5.70x
Old Bolingbroke 12 424.03x
West Derby 12 1.92x
Openshaw 11 11.00x
Shere 11 103.87x
Skidby 11 491.07x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 14.12x
St Nicholas Lincoln 11 40.01x
Ardwick 10 5.19x
Bollin Fee 10 56.79x
Burton Upon Trent 10 7.04x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 10 24.72x
Studley 10 51.55x
Bray 9 22.69x
Camberwell 9 0.78x
Dukinfield 9 4.91x
Frodingham 9 87.80x
Kings Norton 9 4.27x
Pedmore 9 292.21x
Saltfleetby St Clement 9 1097.56x
Stretford 9 7.66x
West Ham 9 1.15x
West Horsley 9 243.90x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.71x
Earsdon 8 36.75x
Eatington 8 186.48x
Gillingham 8 6.32x
Islington London 8 0.46x
Kings Worthy 8 291.97x
Leven 8 152.96x
Marton 8 296.30x
Neithrop 8 21.43x
Newington 8 1.20x
Penge 8 6.96x
Peterborough 8 6.53x
Sigglesthorne 8 597.01x
Skidbrook 8 312.50x
St Maurice Winchester 8 52.19x
Streatham 8 5.99x
Binfield 7 67.57x
Chipping Norton 7 27.26x
Church Lawton 7 137.80x
Gladsmuir 7 65.91x
Halton Holegate 7 228.01x
Ipsden 7 159.82x
Mablethorpe 7 177.22x
Sidmouth 7 32.66x
Sonning 7 46.95x
St George Hanover Square 7 2.21x
Tetney 7 140.85x
Thimbleby 7 366.49x
Westerham 7 49.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 107
William 106
George 88
Henry 57
Thomas 53
Charles 48
James 44
Joseph 28
Arthur 24
Walter 21
Alfred 19
Harry 19
Robert 19
Richard 16
Albert 13
Frederick 12
Fred 11
Edwin 10
Herbert 10
Edward 9
Frank 9
Wm. 8
Edmund 6
Peter 5
Ralph 5
Samuel 5
David 4
Francis 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Jno. 4
Tom 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Enoch 3
Fredk. 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Aurther 2
Ernest 2
Harold 2
Josiah 2
Keeling 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Paul 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2

FAQ

Grantham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grantham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,835 people were recorded with the Grantham surname. That placed it at #2,370 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grantham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,816 in 2016. That gives Grantham a modern rank of #2,399.

What does the Grantham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a person from Grantham, a town in Lincolnshire, England, derived from Old English elements.

What does the Grantham map show?

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