NameCensus.

UK surname

Grealis

A Gaelic surname derived from the Irish word "gréille" meaning "embroiderer" or "weaver".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shawfair, Raploch and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grealis is 166 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2002

166 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Grealis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grealis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grealis 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
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 152 #20,948
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 166 #20,532
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 159 #21,148
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 156 #22,886
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Grealis' 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 Shawfair, Raploch, Wirral and West Oxfordshire. 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 Shawfair Midlothian
2 Raploch Stirling
3 Wirral 027 Wirral
4 Wirral 017 Wirral
5 West Oxfordshire 007 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grealis

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grealis

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Grealis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Grealis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Grealis is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grealis is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grealis 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 Grealis 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Grealis

The surname GREALIS has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "grealach," which means "bright" or "shining." The name likely originated in County Mayo, where many early records of the name can be found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GREALIS surname appears in the 1659 Census of Ireland, where it is spelled as "Greally." This census was conducted during the Commonwealth period, shortly after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

In the late 17th century, the name GREALIS can be found in various land and property records in County Mayo, particularly in the parishes of Kilcommon and Kilmeena. Some examples include John GREALIS, who was listed as a landowner in Kilcommon in 1687, and Michael GREALIS, who owned property in Kilmeena in 1692.

The name GREALIS is also associated with the Irish town of Crossmolina, located in County Mayo. Historical records from the 18th and 19th centuries show several families with this surname residing in and around the Crossmolina area.

One notable GREALIS from the 19th century was Patrick GREALIS (1805-1879), a prominent Irish Catholic priest who served as the Parish Priest of Ballina, County Mayo, from 1849 until his death. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and religious instruction in the region.

Another significant figure with the GREALIS surname was Michael GREALIS (1828-1904), an Irish journalist and author who was active in the Irish nationalist movement. He published several works, including "The Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell" and "The Irish Question," which advocated for Irish independence.

In the early 20th century, John GREALIS (1892-1967) was a renowned Irish poet and playwright. He was born in County Mayo and is best known for his plays "The Whiteheaded Boy" and "The Blind Man's Bluff," which explored themes of Irish rural life and folklore.

Additionally, the GREALIS surname has been documented in various historical records from other counties in Ireland, such as Galway, Sligo, and Roscommon, suggesting that the name may have spread beyond its original Mayo roots over time.

Overall, the surname GREALIS has a rich history rooted in the Irish counties of Mayo and the surrounding areas, with a meaning that reflects the notion of brightness and radiance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Grealis surname: questions and answers

How common is the Grealis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Grealis a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Grealis surname mean?

A Gaelic surname derived from the Irish word "gréille" meaning "embroiderer" or "weaver".

What does the Grealis map show?

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