NameCensus.

UK surname

Greenham

A habitational surname derived from a place called Greenham in Berkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 581 people recorded with the Greenham surname, ranking it #6,004 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 719, ranked #7,553, down from #6,004 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Helen and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Isle of Wight and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greenham is 851 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

581

Ranked #6,004

Modern count

719

2016, ranked #7,553

Peak year

1911

851 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greenham had 581 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,004 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016, ranked #7,553.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 851 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Greenham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greenham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greenham 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 467 #5,562
1881 historical 581 #6,004
1891 historical 679 #5,759
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 851 #5,214
1997 modern 751 #6,874
1998 modern 782 #6,884
1999 modern 767 #7,011
2000 modern 753 #7,078
2001 modern 716 #7,233
2002 modern 735 #7,221
2003 modern 700 #7,389
2004 modern 718 #7,237
2005 modern 693 #7,406
2006 modern 686 #7,491
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 701 #7,479
2009 modern 710 #7,556
2010 modern 710 #7,700
2011 modern 710 #7,615
2012 modern 690 #7,687
2013 modern 708 #7,662
2014 modern 721 #7,598
2015 modern 718 #7,573
2016 modern 719 #7,553

Geography

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Where Greenhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Helen, London parishes and Newchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Isle of Wight, East Hertfordshire and South Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Helen Hampshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Newchurch Hampshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Isle of Wight 002 Isle of Wight
3 East Hertfordshire 014 East Hertfordshire
4 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
5 Isle of Wight 001 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greenham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greenham

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Greenham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Greenham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Greenham 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

Greenham 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

Greenham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greenham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Greenham

The surname Greenham is of English origin, and it dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Greenham, which was a village in Berkshire, England. The name Greenham is believed to have originated from the Old English words "grene" meaning green and "ham" meaning homestead or village.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Greenham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Greneham." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century, and it was likely associated with people who lived in or came from the village of Greenham.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Greenham appearing in various historical documents. For instance, Roger de Greneham was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Berkshire in 1242, indicating that he was involved in a land transaction.

A notable individual with the surname Greenham was Richard Greenham (1535-1594), an English Puritan minister and theologian. He was born in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, and served as a rector in several parishes, including Dry Drayton and Fenditton. Greenham was known for his writings on practical divinity and his efforts to promote religious reform.

Another significant figure was Sir Geoffrey Greenham (1570-1629), who was an English merchant and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Reading in 1624 and played a role in the early colonial ventures of the East India Company.

In the 17th century, there are records of individuals named Greenham in the parish registers of Berkshire and neighboring counties. For example, John Greenham was baptized in Speenhamland, Berkshire, in 1632, and Thomas Greenham was buried in Wokingham, Berkshire, in 1687.

The surname Greenham also has connections to various place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Greenham in Berkshire, as well as a hamlet called Greenham End in Suffolk. The name may have been derived from these locations or vice versa, reflecting the close relationship between surnames and place names in English history.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Greenham has undergone various spellings, such as Greneham, Grenham, and Greenam, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, linking it to the idea of a green homestead or village.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greenham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greenham 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. Hampshire leads with 112 Greenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.62x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 112 9.62x
Somerset 82 8.97x
Middlesex 78 1.37x
Dorset 77 20.67x
Hertfordshire 37 9.46x
Gloucestershire 29 2.60x
Surrey 25 0.90x
Lincolnshire 24 2.64x
Yorkshire 19 0.34x
Devon 14 1.18x
Kent 13 0.67x
Cheshire 12 0.96x
Essex 8 0.71x
Lancashire 8 0.12x
Northamptonshire 8 1.50x
Shropshire 7 1.43x
Staffordshire 6 0.31x
Lanarkshire 3 0.16x
Warwickshire 3 0.21x
Wiltshire 3 0.60x
Glamorgan 2 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.27x
Channel Islands 1 0.59x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Durham 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.55x
Stirlingshire 1 0.48x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helens in Hampshire leads with 28 Greenhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 330.97x.

Place Total Index
St Helens 28 330.97x
Hatfield 21 264.82x
Norton Sub Hamdon 21 2000.00x
Islington London 16 2.91x
Poole St James 16 114.29x
Merriott 15 561.80x
Northwood 15 90.53x
Bristol St Paul In 14 47.20x
Bridport 13 169.49x
Lambeth 13 2.63x
Melcombe Regis 13 84.20x
Chiselborough 11 1571.43x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 9.54x
Carisbrooke 10 61.92x
Lower Bebington 10 134.41x
Portsea 10 4.38x
Yeovil 10 53.85x
Hammersmith London 9 6.44x
Thorley 9 2432.43x
Whippingham 9 102.16x
Arreton 8 214.48x
Beaminster 8 193.24x
Deptford St Paul 8 5.35x
Doncaster 8 19.46x
Edmonton 8 17.49x
Weedon Beck 8 208.88x
West Chinnock 8 987.65x
Clerkenwell London 7 5.22x
East Barnet 7 90.21x
Fareham 7 50.07x
Montacute 7 416.67x
Hackney London 6 1.89x
Wednesbury 6 12.53x
Allington 5 150.60x
Broadwinsor 5 204.92x
Northaw 5 442.48x
Portland 5 24.95x
Blankney 4 312.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.74x
Exeter St George The 4 307.69x
Finchley 4 18.38x
Great Grimsby 4 6.94x
Harley 4 1142.86x
South Weald 4 41.67x
Stratton 4 689.66x
Sutton St Mary 4 46.62x
Tormoham 4 8.00x
Tottenham 4 4.42x
Birmingham 3 0.63x
Branston 3 107.91x
Cainham 3 132.16x
Cambuslang 3 16.21x
Castle Dykings Lincoln 3 833.33x
Crondall 3 48.00x
Halstead 3 22.95x
Metheringham 3 82.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.63x
St Luke London 3 3.29x
St Martin In Fields 3 8.83x
St Marylebone London 3 0.99x
Thulbear 3 1764.71x
Burstock 2 540.54x
Clifton 2 3.55x
East Stonehouse 2 8.59x
Erith 2 10.48x
Great Stanmore 2 78.43x
Hawley 2 91.32x
Holy Trinity 2 1.48x
Lewisham 2 1.94x
Nether Hallam 2 2.63x
Newington 2 0.95x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.01x
Preston 2 147.06x
Purton 2 44.74x
Ryde 2 8.00x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.00x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.42x
Stourbridge 2 10.48x
Swansea Town 2 2.47x
West Camel 2 363.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 17
Ann 12
Emma 12
Alice 11
Annie 11
Ellen 11
Jane 11
Eliza 8
Charlotte 7
Fanny 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 7
Caroline 6
Emily 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Susan 5
Edith 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Harriett 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Ethel 2
Georgena 2
Henrietta 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Rosina 2
Alma 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Carolina 1
Daisey 1
Eleanor 1
Eliena 1
Elisabeth 1
Elisth. 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Havoret 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
Charles 29
John 24
George 23
Henry 14
James 11
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Joseph 7
Frank 6
Robert 6
Frederick 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Wm. 4
Edward 3
Isaac 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Gilbert 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Alonzo 1
Bertie 1
Chas.John 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Emmanuel 1
Eustace 1
F. 1
Fred.A. 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
J. 1
Jas.N. 1
Julian 1
Lawrence 1
Leon 1

FAQ

Greenham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greenham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 581 people were recorded with the Greenham surname. That placed it at #6,004 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greenham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016. That gives Greenham a modern rank of #7,553.

What does the Greenham surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place called Greenham in Berkshire, England.

What does the Greenham map show?

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