NameCensus.

UK surname

Grasso

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who worked with fats or lard, or a heavy-set individual.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Camden and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grasso is 206 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

2014

206 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Grasso surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grasso surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grasso 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 2 #33,133
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 137 #23,198
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 164 #21,628
2010 modern 173 #21,327
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 206 #19,318
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Grassos 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 Carmarthenshire, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, Bedford and Bristol. 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 Carmarthenshire 018 Carmarthenshire
2 Camden 009 Camden
3 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bedford 011 Bedford
5 Bristol 035 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grasso

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grasso

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Grasso surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Grasso 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Grasso is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Grasso is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grasso falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grasso 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Grasso

The surname Grasso originates from Italy, where it has been present since at least the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian word "grasso," meaning "fat" or "stout," suggesting that the name was likely originally a descriptive nickname given to a heavyset individual. The name is particularly associated with the regions of Campania, Calabria, and Sicily in southern Italy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Grasso surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Barese, a collection of historical documents from the city of Bari, dated around 1200. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Grassus" and "Grassio," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the Grasso name was Gian Antonio Grasso, a wealthy merchant and banker from Genoa (born around 1320). He was involved in financing various trade expeditions and played a significant role in the city's economic affairs during that period.

Another prominent figure with the Grasso surname was Antonio Grasso, a Neapolitan painter who lived from 1555 to 1633. He was known for his religious works and contributed to the decoration of several churches in Naples and its surrounding areas.

During the Renaissance, the Grasso family was also influential in the city of Palermo, Sicily. One member, Vincenzo Grasso (1564-1629), served as a senator and held important administrative positions in the city's government.

In the 19th century, Luigi Grasso (1805-1865) was a notable Italian composer and conductor who worked in Naples and composed several operas and other musical works.

Historically, the Grasso surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Grasso, a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, and Grasso Valdelsa, a comune in the province of Siena, Tuscany. These place names may have influenced the spread and variations of the surname in different regions of Italy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Grasso surname: questions and answers

How common is the Grasso surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Grasso a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Grasso surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a person who worked with fats or lard, or a heavy-set individual.

What does the Grasso map show?

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