NameCensus.

UK surname

Gratrix

A surname derived from the Germanic personal name "Grat-ric", meaning "grace-powerful".

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Gratrix surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, down from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Ashton-upon-Mersey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Swansea and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gratrix is 359 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.2%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

1881

359 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gratrix had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Gratrix surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gratrix surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gratrix 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 289 #7,860
1861 historical 211 #11,508
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 328 #10,348
1901 historical 349 #10,457
1911 historical 311 #11,150
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 220 #17,033
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

Back to top

Where Gratrix' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Bolton-le-Moors and Flixton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Swansea, Cheshire West and Chester 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Ashton-upon-Mersey Cheshire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Flixton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 003 Burnley
2 Swansea 017 Swansea
3 Cheshire West and Chester 008 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Cheshire West and Chester 013 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Salford 015 Salford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gratrix

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gratrix

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Gratrix 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

Gratrix 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

Gratrix 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 Gratrix 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 Gratrix, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gratrix

The surname Gratrix originates from England and is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "grēat" meaning great or large, and "risc" meaning a rush or reed, suggesting it may have initially referred to someone who lived near a large reed bed or marsh.

Early records of the name can be found in various parish registers and tax rolls from the 16th century onwards, with spellings varying slightly, such as Gretrix, Greatrish, and Gretriche. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1524, which lists a William Gratrix from the parish of Rochdale.

The Gratrix name appears to have been particularly concentrated in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, with many records indicating families residing in areas around Manchester, Oldham, and Stockport. In the 17th century, the name is found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Cheshire from 1674, suggesting a presence in that region during that time.

One notable individual bearing the Gratrix surname was John Gratrix (1730-1799), a prominent businessman and landowner from Oldham, Lancashire. He was involved in the textile industry and owned several mills, playing a significant role in the town's economic development during the Industrial Revolution.

Another individual of note was James Gratrix (1801-1876), a British engineer and inventor from Manchester. He is credited with several important innovations in the textile industry, including improvements to power looms and spinning machinery.

In the realm of literature, there was Elizabeth Gratrix (1837-1920), an English novelist and poet from Cheshire. She published several works of fiction and poetry during the Victorian era, including the novel "Alderley Grange" in 1876.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir William Gratrix (1888-1964) was a British businessman and philanthropist from Lancashire. He made his fortune in the textile industry and later became a prominent figure in local politics, serving as the Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1954 to 1955.

Finally, one cannot overlook John Gratrix (1928-2015), a renowned British architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the redevelopment of several cities in the UK, including Manchester and Liverpool, during the post-war period, and his work had a significant impact on the reshaping of urban landscapes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gratrix families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gratrix 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 269 Gratrix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 269 6.47x
Cheshire 47 6.08x
Lincolnshire 20 3.57x
Yorkshire 9 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 5 7.19x
Staffordshire 4 0.34x
Essex 2 0.29x
Gloucestershire 2 0.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton Upon Irwell in Lancashire leads with 46 Gratrix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 147.06x.

Place Total Index
Barton Upon Irwell 46 147.06x
Worsley 37 144.47x
Great Bolton 29 52.69x
Sale 24 253.16x
Hulme 17 19.60x
Flixton 16 751.17x
Salford 16 13.09x
Farnworth 9 36.14x
Layton With Warbreck 9 59.02x
Rixton With Glazebrook 9 849.06x
Dukinfield 8 22.40x
Scredington 8 1951.22x
Withington 7 52.28x
Little Bolton 6 11.23x
Rumworth 6 101.01x
Bredbury 5 111.86x
Frieston 5 375.94x
Heap 5 22.69x
Moss Side 5 22.86x
Pownall Fee 5 144.51x
Ramsey 5 89.77x
Ardwick 4 10.67x
Broughton In Salford 4 10.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 6.06x
Haisthorpe 4 2666.67x
Halliwell 4 26.46x
Preston 4 3.60x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 4 33.44x
Wolverhampton 4 4.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.30x
Boston 3 17.66x
Holy Trinity 3 3.59x
North Meols 3 7.37x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 2 72.46x
Frampton 2 188.68x
Fulshaw 2 140.85x
Gorton 2 5.12x
Huddersfield 2 3.96x
Kirkdale 2 2.86x
Moreton 2 370.37x
Poulton Le Fylde 2 136.05x
Radcliffe 2 9.99x
Thornton In Fylde 2 22.00x
Tintwistle 2 48.43x
Toxteth Park 2 1.42x
Westcote 2 909.09x
Cheetham 1 3.23x
Colsterworth 1 84.75x
Didsbury 1 18.12x
Fulwood 1 22.27x
Hardhorn With Newton 1 196.08x
Kearsley 1 11.44x
Mancetter 1 39.37x
North Kyme 1 120.48x
Northenden 1 70.92x
Sharples 1 22.17x
Warrington 1 2.03x
Wavertree 1 7.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 22
Mary 22
Sarah 19
Jane 11
Martha 10
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Alice 7
Hannah 7
Eliza 6
Annie 4
Margaret 4
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Contents 1
Elizh.Ann 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lawesa 1
Lillie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margt.A. 1
Margt.S.T. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
James 29
William 24
Thomas 17
Joseph 9
Samuel 7
Richard 6
Edward 5
Frederick 5
George 4
Peter 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
David 2
Frank 2
Albert 1
Alexr. 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jas.Edw. 1
Jessie 1
Rich.S. 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Simeon 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Gratrix surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gratrix surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Gratrix surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gratrix surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Gratrix a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Gratrix surname mean?

A surname derived from the Germanic personal name "Grat-ric", meaning "grace-powerful".

What does the Gratrix map show?

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