NameCensus.

UK surname

Grasby

In the 1881 census there were 170 people recorded with the Grasby surname, ranking it #14,265 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 145, ranked #24,293, down from #14,265 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Leeds and Eastrington (Bellasize, Gilberdike, Newport Wallington, Portingten and Cavil, Eastrington) , Wressel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grasby is 254 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.7%.

1881 census count

170

Ranked #14,265

Modern count

145

2016, ranked #24,293

Peak year

1891

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grasby had 170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,265 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016, ranked #24,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Grasby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grasby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grasby 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 154 #12,668
1861 historical 174 #13,483
1881 historical 170 #14,265
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 244 #13,329
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 164 #20,279
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 162 #20,624
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 152 #23,282
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 145 #24,293

Geography

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Where Grasbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Leeds, Eastrington (Bellasize, Gilberdike, Newport Wallington, Portingten and Cavil, Eastrington) , Wressel, Sculcoates and Whitgift. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Manchester and Chesterfield. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Eastrington (Bellasize, Gilberdike, Newport Wallington, Portingten and Cavil, Eastrington) , Wressel Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Whitgift Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 016 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Manchester 011 Manchester
5 Chesterfield 012 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grasby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grasby

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Grasby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Grasby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Grasby 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.

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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

Grasby is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grasby falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Grasby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grasby 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. Yorkshire leads with 140 Grasbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.62x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 140 8.62x
Lincolnshire 15 5.73x
Middlesex 6 0.37x
Bedfordshire 3 3.54x
Durham 2 0.41x
Midlothian 2 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 24 Grasbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.44x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 24 61.44x
Sculcoates 15 58.28x
Brandesburton 11 2558.14x
Hotham 10 4761.90x
New Village 10 2040.82x
Anlaby 7 2000.00x
Beverley St Nicholas 5 375.94x
Featherstone 5 274.73x
Goole 5 183.82x
Hornsey 5 24.13x
Walkington 5 909.09x
Beverley St Martin 4 147.60x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 38.28x
Leeds 4 4.36x
Newington 4 89.49x
North Cave Drewton 4 625.00x
South Ferriby 4 975.61x
Burstwick With 3 1250.00x
Emswell Cum Kellythorpe 3 3333.33x
Leighton Buzzard 3 82.19x
Broughton 2 273.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 2.26x
Frieston 2 322.58x
Gainsborough 2 32.36x
Great Driffield 2 60.06x
Great Houghton 2 1000.00x
Stranton 2 12.19x
Swinefleet 2 285.71x
Whixley 2 689.66x
Boston 1 12.58x
Burley In Wharfdale 1 69.93x
Drypool 1 40.16x
Faxfleet 1 714.29x
Gate Fulford 1 26.39x
Leconfield Arram 1 555.56x
New Malton 1 51.55x
Paddington London 1 1.66x
Ravenfield 1 1000.00x
Rotherham 1 10.93x
Saddleworth 1 7.99x
Spittlegate 1 27.62x
St Margaret Lincoln 1 416.67x
Stamford St Michael 1 135.14x
Sutton St Mary 1 40.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Annie 8
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Jane 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amethea 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elvy 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Linie 1
Mar. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
May 1
Prescilla 1
Richard 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
Robert 8
Thomas 8
George 6
James 5
Joseph 4
Frank 3
John 3
Richard 3
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Jack 1
Lawrance 1
Lawrence 1
Robt. 1
Samu. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Grasby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grasby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 170 people were recorded with the Grasby surname. That placed it at #14,265 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grasby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016. That gives Grasby a modern rank of #24,293.

What does the Grasby map show?

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