NameCensus.

UK surname

Grealish

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gréalaigh, a descriptive name meaning "brawler" or "wrestler".

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Grealish surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Westminster and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grealish is 167 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1058.3%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2000

167 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grealish had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Grealish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grealish surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Grealish 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 1 #34,435
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

Back to top

Where Grealishs 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 Southwark, Westminster, Brighton and Hove and Birmingham. 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 Southwark 025 Southwark
2 Westminster 002 Westminster
3 Brighton and Hove 023 Brighton and Hove
4 Westminster 005 Westminster
5 Birmingham 044 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Grealish

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Grealish

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Grealish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Grealish 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Grealish is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grealish 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

Grealish falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grealish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Grealish

The surname GREALISH originates from Ireland and dates back to the 13th century. It is a Gaelic name derived from the Irish words 'grialach' meaning 'brindled' or 'grey', and 'ise' meaning 'habitation' or 'place'. The name likely referred to a family or clan living in a specific location with a greyish or brindled hue.

GREALISH is predominantly found in the counties of Galway and Mayo in the west of Ireland. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Annals of Lough Cé from 1224, which mentions a 'Greylagh' or 'Greylish'. Similar early spellings include 'Gryalish', 'Grelish', and 'Grelych'.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Annals of Connacht, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals refer to a 'Maelsechlainn Grealish' who was a member of the Uí Briúin clan in County Galway. This suggests that the GREALISH family held a prominent position within the Gaelic nobility of the region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname is Tadhg Grealish, a poet and historian born in County Galway in the late 16th century. His works provide valuable insights into the culture and traditions of the Irish people during the Gaelic Renaissance.

In the 17th century, the GREALISH name is associated with the town of Tuam, County Galway. The Grealish family were landowners and merchants in the area, with their name appearing in various property records and legal documents from that period.

Another notable figure was Sir Michael Grealish (1640-1718), a successful merchant and landowner from County Mayo. He served as High Sheriff of Mayo and played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of the region during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

During the 19th century, several members of the GREALISH family emigrated from Ireland to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. One such individual was Patrick Grealish (1819-1890), a Irish-American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Other notable individuals include Edmond Grealish (1874-1956), an Irish politician and member of the First Dáil, and Seán Grealish (1887-1967), an Irish revolutionary who participated in the Easter Rising of 1916 and later served as a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Grealish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grealish 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 9 Grealishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 6.49x
Lanarkshire 2 5.29x
Cheshire 1 3.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haslingden in Lancashire leads with 7 Grealishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1228.07x.

Place Total Index
Haslingden 7 1228.07x
Govan 2 21.39x
Wardleworth 2 253.16x
Eastham 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 1
Cathrine 1
Honoria 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Jno. 1
John 1
Martin 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Grealish households.

FAQ

Grealish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grealish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Grealish surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grealish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Grealish a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Grealish surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gréalaigh, a descriptive name meaning "brawler" or "wrestler".

What does the Grealish map show?

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