NameCensus.

UK surname

Grech

A surname derived from the Greek language, possibly indicating origins or ancestry from Greece.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Grech surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 733, ranked #7,430, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Salford and Portsmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grech is 756 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10371.4%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

733

2016, ranked #7,430

Peak year

2010

756 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grech had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016, ranked #7,430.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Grech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grech surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grech 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 537 #8,823
1998 modern 564 #8,749
1999 modern 577 #8,662
2000 modern 584 #8,567
2001 modern 573 #8,552
2002 modern 608 #8,381
2003 modern 612 #8,203
2004 modern 617 #8,178
2005 modern 637 #7,900
2006 modern 642 #7,881
2007 modern 681 #7,602
2008 modern 695 #7,529
2009 modern 730 #7,393
2010 modern 756 #7,340
2011 modern 742 #7,373
2012 modern 712 #7,509
2013 modern 713 #7,623
2014 modern 722 #7,590
2015 modern 729 #7,492
2016 modern 733 #7,430

Geography

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Where Grechs 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 Cardiff, Salford, Portsmouth and Ealing. 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 Cardiff 023 Cardiff
2 Salford 004 Salford
3 Salford 028 Salford
4 Portsmouth 008 Portsmouth
5 Ealing 015 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grech

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Grech surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Grech household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Grech is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grech 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

Grech falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grech 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Grech

The surname Grech has its origins in the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is derived from the Maltese word "Grech," which means "Greek." The name dates back to the Middle Ages when there was a significant Greek presence on the island due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Grech can be found in medieval Maltese documents and records, such as the Militia Rolls and the Ecclesiastical Archives. These records indicate that families bearing this surname were concentrated in various towns and villages across the Maltese Islands, particularly in the areas around the capital city of Valletta.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Grech was Petrus Grech, a Maltese merchant who lived in the early 15th century. His name appears in several historical documents related to trade and commerce in the Mediterranean region during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Grech surname is mentioned in the records of the Order of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller. Several members of the Grech family served as soldiers and officials within the Order, which ruled over the Maltese Islands for many years.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Grech family became prominent in Maltese society, with several individuals holding positions of influence and power. One notable figure was Fabrizio Grech (1680-1745), a Maltese priest and scholar who served as the Bishop of Malta from 1733 to 1745.

Another prominent individual was Salvatore Grech (1757-1830), a Maltese architect and civil engineer who designed several important buildings and structures in Malta, including the Auberge de Castille, which served as the administrative headquarters of the Knights of St. John.

In the 19th century, the Grech surname gained recognition beyond the Maltese Islands. Antonio Grech (1801-1879) was a Maltese lawyer and politician who played a crucial role in the development of Malta's constitutional system and the establishment of responsible government.

Additionally, Giuseppe Grech (1856-1931), a Maltese painter and sculptor, achieved international acclaim for his works of art, which were exhibited in various European capitals and are now housed in prestigious museums around the world.

Throughout history, the surname Grech has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including merchants, soldiers, clergy, architects, artists, and politicians. The name is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Malta and its connections with the Greek world, which date back centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grech 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. Shropshire leads with 6 Grechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.26x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 6 79.26x
Royal Navy 2 192.31x
Nottinghamshire 1 8.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oswestry Town in Shropshire leads with 6 Grechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Oswestry Town 6 2500.00x
Royal Navy 2 224.72x
Sutton In Ashfield 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elenor 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Charles 1
Emanuel 1
Francesco 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 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 Grech households.

FAQ

Grech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Grech surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016. That gives Grech a modern rank of #7,430.

What does the Grech surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek language, possibly indicating origins or ancestry from Greece.

What does the Grech map show?

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