UK surname
The surname Greece likely derived from one's place of origin or ancestry in the country of Greece.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Greece surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mynyddyslwyn, St Mary the More and Ross Foreign and Ross Borough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greece is 109 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.0%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1891
109 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Greece surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Greece surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 2 | #34,135 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mynyddyslwyn, St Mary the More, Ross Foreign and Ross Borough, St Pancras and Brancepeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mynyddyslwyn | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | St Mary the More | Berkshire |
| 3 | Ross Foreign and Ross Borough | Herefordshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Brancepeth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Greece surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Greece, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Greece surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Greece household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Greece is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greece is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Greece, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Greece" is an anglicized form of a locational name derived from the country of Greece. It is believed to have originated in medieval England, where it was likely given to someone who hailed from Greece or had some connection to the Greek people or culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1273. The entry "Johannes de Grece" suggests that the name existed in England as early as the 13th century.
The name may also have roots in the Old English word "Grēcas," which referred to the Greeks or people of Greece. It's possible that the surname was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who displayed Greek-like qualities or had an association with Greek culture.
Interestingly, the surname "Greece" shares similarities with the place name "Grece," which appears in the Domesday Book of 1086. This entry refers to a location in Hertfordshire, suggesting that the surname could have originated as a locational name from this area.
Notable individuals bearing the surname "Greece" include:
1. John Greece (c. 1292 - 1360), an English churchman who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1342 until his death. 2. William Greece (c. 1455 - 1509), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament during the Tudor period. 3. Elizabeth Greece (c. 1570 - 1635), an English author and poet who wrote religious works and devotional poetry. 4. Thomas Greece (c. 1620 - 1685), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in the 17th century. 5. Mary Greece (c. 1690 - 1763), an English artist known for her intricate tapestry work and embroidery designs.
The surname "Greece" has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as "Grece," "Greece," and "Grece." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and evolving spelling conventions over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greece surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 7 Greeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 3.59x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 2.59x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 5.23x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.33x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.50x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 3.34x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 3.81x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beswick in Lancashire leads with 3 Greeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 508.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Beswick | 3 | 508.47x |
| St Luke London | 3 | 95.85x |
| Cherington | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Islington London | 2 | 10.59x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 104.17x |
| Brooke | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 144.93x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 7.12x |
| Manchester | 1 | 9.62x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 61.73x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 14.73x |
| West Derby | 1 | 14.79x |
| Woking | 1 | 175.44x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Greece surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Greece surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Greece households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Agri Labourer | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer | 1 |
| Driver Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Fancy Box Maker | 1 |
| Income From Property | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Medical Porter | 1 |
| Printers Compositor | 1 |
| Ry Lab | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Solicitors Managing Clerk | 1 |
| Wire Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Greece surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Greece a modern rank of #38,594.
The surname Greece likely derived from one's place of origin or ancestry in the country of Greece.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Greece bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.