NameCensus.

UK surname

Greed

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "grede," meaning "eager desire" or "covetousness."

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Greed surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 191, ranked #20,194, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Mendip and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greed is 269 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

1911

269 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greed had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Greed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greed surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greed 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 269 #12,300
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 218 #17,159
1999 modern 217 #17,307
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 200 #17,948
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

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Where Greeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, St Pancras, Bradford and West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Mendip, Forest of Dean, Bradford and Wyre Forest. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 West Ashbrittle, Stawley, Milverton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 006 East Devon
2 Mendip 014 Mendip
3 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
4 Bradford 057 Bradford
5 Wyre Forest 008 Wyre Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greed

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greed

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Greed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Greed 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Greed is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Greed is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greed falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greed is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Greed

The surname Greed has its roots traced back to England during the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from regions such as Devon and Somerset. Derived from the Old English word "greot," which means gravel or grit, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a gravelly area or had a gritty disposition.

Early records of the surname Greed appear in various medieval manuscripts and documents. In the 12th century, land grants and charters mention individuals bearing the surname Greed. A notable early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Devon, dated circa 1170, where a certain William Greed is documented.

As the name evolved, variations in spelling emerged, including Grede and Gred. The Poll Tax records of 1379 from Yorkshire also list a John Grede, indicating that the surname had spread to different regions of England by this time.

One of the earliest distinguished individuals with the surname Greed was Thomas Greed, born in 1482 and recorded as a yeoman who held substantial land in Somerset. His will, dated 1540, provides valuable insights into the family’s standing and the possessions they held.

In the 16th century, records of the name can be found in church registers. For instance, Elizabeth Greed, born in 1534 and christened in Exeter, is a testament to the surname’s presence in Devon during the Tudor period.

Another notable figure is Richard Greed, born in 1610 and known for his participation in the English Civil War. As a supporter of the Parliamentarians, Richard’s involvement in key battles of the conflict is recorded in various military logs and letters.

The 18th century saw the emergence of George Greed (1732-1795), a merchant from Bristol who became well-known for his ventures in the shipping industry. His correspondences and business transactions are well documented in the city archives.

Lastly, Mary Greed, born in 1805 in London, made significant contributions to the early feminist movement. Her efforts in advocating for women's rights are captured in numerous pamphlets and letters, highlighting her role in societal reforms during the Victorian era.

The surname Greed, with its origins in medieval England and subsequent historical references, provides a rich tapestry of lineage and legacy. It is through these early records and the lives of individuals bearing the name that one can trace its evolution and impact over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greed 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. Somerset leads with 60 Greeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.61x.

County Total Index
Somerset 60 22.61x
Middlesex 34 2.06x
Essex 19 5.84x
Surrey 16 1.99x
Devon 10 2.91x
Lancashire 9 0.46x
Yorkshire 7 0.43x
Sussex 3 1.08x
Gloucestershire 2 0.62x
Royal Navy 2 10.18x
Suffolk 2 1.00x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lanarkshire 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.45x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x
Wiltshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Taunton St Mary in Somerset leads with 29 Greeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 595.48x.

Place Total Index
Taunton St Mary 29 595.48x
Islington London 13 8.14x
St Pancras London 12 9.04x
Wanstead 11 192.98x
Bermondsey 9 18.34x
Crowcombe 9 3600.00x
Carhampton 8 2222.22x
Bradford 7 17.70x
West Ham 7 9.74x
Liverpool 6 5.05x
Clayhanger 5 3846.15x
Nettlecombe 5 2941.18x
Bow London 4 19.06x
Lambeth 4 2.78x
Bethnal Green London 3 4.19x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 38.17x
Brighton 2 3.57x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 37.31x
Heathfield 2 3333.33x
Milverton 2 204.08x
North Meols 2 10.44x
Royal Navy 2 11.91x
Stoke Damerel 2 8.33x
Alveston 1 217.39x
Battersea 1 1.65x
Bocking 1 51.02x
Camberwell 1 0.95x
Clifton 1 6.12x
Devizes St Mary 1 68.03x
Holford 1 1111.11x
Hove 1 8.20x
Huyton With Roby 1 43.67x
Ilminster 1 54.05x
Kensington London 1 1.09x
Lewisham 1 3.33x
Maryhill 1 9.58x
Newington 1 1.64x
Old Cleeve 1 105.26x
South Leith 1 4.02x
Tipton 1 5.87x
Walcot 1 7.08x
West Monkton 1 172.41x
Westminster St James 1 5.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 6
Matilda 5
Emily 4
Annie 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Adelaide 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
E.D. 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Evelyne 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hebe 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Mina 1
Olivia 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Winifredd 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Greed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Greed surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Greed a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Greed surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "grede," meaning "eager desire" or "covetousness."

What does the Greed map show?

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