NameCensus.

UK surname

Greene

A descriptive surname referring to someone who lived near a grassy area or village green.

In the 1881 census there were 802 people recorded with the Greene surname, ranking it #4,642 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,494, ranked #1,513, up from #4,642 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Hertsmere and Toryglen and Oatlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greene is 4,524 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 460.3%.

1881 census count

802

Ranked #4,642

Modern count

4,494

2016, ranked #1,513

Peak year

2014

4,524 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greene had 802 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,642 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,494 in 2016, ranked #1,513.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,231 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Greene surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greene surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greene 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 540 #4,666
1861 historical 516 #5,072
1881 historical 802 #4,642
1891 historical 758 #5,257
1901 historical 1,067 #4,525
1911 historical 1,231 #3,835
1997 modern 4,190 #1,546
1998 modern 4,365 #1,542
1999 modern 4,374 #1,550
2000 modern 4,270 #1,570
2001 modern 4,190 #1,565
2002 modern 4,312 #1,559
2003 modern 4,247 #1,553
2004 modern 4,272 #1,549
2005 modern 4,233 #1,538
2006 modern 4,191 #1,558
2007 modern 4,177 #1,580
2008 modern 4,236 #1,563
2009 modern 4,333 #1,570
2010 modern 4,519 #1,542
2011 modern 4,490 #1,531
2012 modern 4,398 #1,529
2013 modern 4,470 #1,532
2014 modern 4,524 #1,530
2015 modern 4,496 #1,522
2016 modern 4,494 #1,513

Geography

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Where Greenes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, St Pancras and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Luton, Hertsmere, Toryglen and Oatlands, Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill and Greenock East. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Luton 021 Luton
2 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
3 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
4 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greene

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greene

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Greene surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Greene 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Greene is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Greene 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

Greene 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 Greene 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Greene

The surname Greene has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word "grene," which means green or a village green. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a green or a grassy area.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Greene can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which mentions a person named John del Grene. The Domesday Book of 1086 also includes several references to places with names containing the word "grene," such as Grenehille and Grenestede.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Grene, Gren, and Grenne. Some notable examples from this period include Walter Grene, a member of Parliament in 1376, and John Grene, a scholar and theologian who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname Greene became more widely distributed across England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the modern spelling is that of Thomas Greene, a merchant from London, who was mentioned in tax records in 1483.

The Greene family has a long and distinguished history, with several notable members. One of the most famous was Robert Greene (1558-1592), an English playwright, poet, and writer of prose fiction, who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. Another notable figure was Nathanael Greene (1742-1786), a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, known for his successful campaign in the Southern states.

Other notable individuals with the surname Greene include Graham Greene (1904-1991), an English novelist and author of works such as "The Power and the Glory" and "The Quiet American," and Charles Greene (1945-), an American architect known for his work in sustainable and environmentally conscious design.

The name Greene has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Greene's Norton in Northamptonshire and Greenway in Devon, which may have derived their names from individuals with the surname or from the geographical features of the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greene families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greene 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. Middlesex leads with 171 Greenes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 171 2.14x
Lancashire 105 1.11x
Surrey 61 1.57x
Suffolk 38 3.91x
Kent 29 1.06x
Essex 25 1.59x
Yorkshire 24 0.30x
Norfolk 23 1.87x
Northumberland 23 1.94x
Durham 21 0.88x
Somerset 21 1.63x
Gloucestershire 20 1.28x
Bedfordshire 17 4.11x
Shropshire 16 2.32x
Isle of Man 15 10.11x
Northamptonshire 15 2.00x
Staffordshire 15 0.56x
Sussex 15 1.11x
Warwickshire 14 0.69x
Berkshire 12 2.00x
Lanarkshire 12 0.46x
Monmouthshire 11 1.90x
Derbyshire 10 0.80x
Caernarfonshire 9 2.79x
Glamorgan 8 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.74x
Oxfordshire 8 1.62x
Devon 7 0.42x
Hertfordshire 7 1.27x
Worcestershire 7 0.67x
Cheshire 6 0.34x
Hampshire 6 0.37x
Westmorland 5 2.85x
Cardiganshire 4 2.05x
Lincolnshire 4 0.31x
Midlothian 4 0.37x
Dorset 3 0.57x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.89x
Royal Navy 3 3.15x
Angus 2 0.27x
Herefordshire 2 0.61x
Leicestershire 2 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.30x
Cumberland 1 0.15x
Fife 1 0.21x
Peeblesshire 1 2.66x
Radnorshire 1 1.55x
Rutland 1 1.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 47 Greenes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 47 7.31x
Lancaster 19 33.68x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 15 82.15x
Newcastle On Tyne St 15 24.34x
Kensington London 14 3.15x
Benfieldside 13 83.17x
Camberwell 13 2.55x
Islington London 13 1.68x
Shoreditch London 13 3.75x
Bury St Edmunds St James 12 46.17x
St George Hanover Square 12 8.53x
Hammersmith London 11 5.59x
Lambeth 11 1.58x
Bedford St Mary 10 93.90x
Prescot 10 58.34x
St Marylebone London 10 2.34x
Blisworth 9 310.34x
Farley 9 697.67x
Nuthurst 9 403.59x
Abergavenny 8 36.99x
Battersea 8 2.72x
Castle Rising 8 833.33x
Clarborough 8 99.38x
Middlesbrough 8 7.76x
Newington 8 2.71x
Norwich St Stephen 8 70.92x
Taunton St Mary 8 33.88x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.02x
Birmingham 7 1.04x
Clifton 7 8.84x
Lewisham 7 4.82x
Norton 7 343.14x
Onchan 7 16.38x
Preston 7 2.76x
Rickmansworth 7 46.17x
Stokeinteignhead 7 391.06x
Wellington 7 18.05x
Barnsley 6 7.35x
Bedminster 6 4.97x
Bexley 6 24.90x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.85x
Fryerning 6 310.88x
Great Barford 6 279.07x
Little Eaton 6 231.66x
Llandaff 6 12.96x
Northmoor 6 731.71x
Stelling 6 4615.38x
Astley 5 68.40x
Barony 5 0.76x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 17.59x
Chorley 5 9.40x
Ditton Priors 5 304.88x
Elton 5 15.27x
Kirkby Lonsdale 5 105.26x
Kirkdale 5 3.14x
Maughold 5 43.67x
North Meols 5 5.39x
Pemberton 5 13.23x
Pendleton In Salford 5 4.43x
Penmorfa 5 148.37x
Saffron Walden 5 30.01x
St Luke London 5 3.90x
Stone 5 14.50x
Toxteth Park 5 1.56x
Wallingford St Peter 5 393.70x
West Ham 5 1.44x
Aberystwith 4 23.85x
Ashdon 4 173.91x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 5.31x
Claydon 4 275.86x
Egham 4 16.74x
Freshford 4 360.36x
Govan 4 0.63x
Hampstead London 4 3.21x
Lilleshall 4 37.91x
Midgham 4 487.80x
Paddington London 4 1.36x
Sculcoates 4 3.19x
Upton 4 203.05x
Worcester St Peter 4 20.25x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 31
Henry 24
Thomas 20
Alfred 17
Charles 15
Edward 15
James 15
George 14
Joseph 13
Richard 13
Frank 10
Walter 10
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Samuel 7
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
David 4
Alexander 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Ernest 2
Godfrey 2
Michael 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Alex 1
Algernon 1
Allan 1
C. 1
Carleton 1
Cecil 1
Chares 1
Dawson 1
Edw. 1
Frances 1
H.B. 1
Henrietta 1
Hernie 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Greene surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greene surname in 1881?

In 1881, 802 people were recorded with the Greene surname. That placed it at #4,642 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greene surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,494 in 2016. That gives Greene a modern rank of #1,513.

What does the Greene surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone who lived near a grassy area or village green.

What does the Greene map show?

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