NameCensus.

UK surname

Greep

A surname derived from the Dutch or German word "greep," meaning grip or grasp.

In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Greep surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #19,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston, Cornwood and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Plymouth and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greep is 168 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.6%.

1881 census count

99

Ranked #19,877

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

2013

168 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greep had 99 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Greep surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greep surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Greep 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 99 #19,877
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 160 #17,387
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 162 #20,460
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 163 #22,547
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

Back to top

Where Greeps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston, Cornwood, West Derby, Yealmpton and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Plymouth, West Devon and Teignbridge. 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 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
2 Cornwood Devon
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Yealmpton Devon
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 002 South Hams
2 Plymouth 029 Plymouth
3 West Devon 005 West Devon
4 Plymouth 009 Plymouth
5 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Greep

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Greep

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Greep surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Greep household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Greep 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

Greep is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greep falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greep 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 Greep, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Greep

The surname GREEP is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was derived from the Old English word "grep," meaning a small ditch or trench.

During the 13th century, the name GREEP appeared in several historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire, where it was spelled as "Grep." This early variation suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near or worked on land with ditches or trenches.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name GREEP was John Grep, who was mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the surname GREEP was also found in the parish records of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, where it was spelled as "Greppe." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

Historically, the GREEP surname has been linked to several notable individuals. One such figure was William Greep (1590-1662), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry class in Yorkshire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations.

Another notable bearer of the GREEP surname was Thomas Greep (1721-1798), a respected scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Kirkby Malham in Yorkshire. He was known for his theological writings and contributions to the local community.

In the 19th century, the GREEP surname gained recognition through the work of John Greep (1811-1888), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.

Additionally, the name GREEP has been associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Greep Lane and Greep Farm, further reinforcing its historical connection to the region.

While the surname GREEP may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and is deeply rooted in the cultural and geographical landscape of Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Greep families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greep 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. Devon leads with 88 Greeps recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.34x.

County Total Index
Devon 88 43.34x
Cornwall 6 5.43x
Cheshire 3 1.39x
Glamorgan 2 1.18x
Royal Navy 1 8.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cornwood in Devon leads with 18 Greeps recorded in 1881 and an index of 4615.38x.

Place Total Index
Cornwood 18 4615.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 95.91x
Buckland Monachorum 11 2558.14x
Shaugh Prior 9 3913.04x
Plymouth Charles The 7 78.21x
Plympton St Mary 5 427.35x
Stoke Damerel 5 35.19x
Moreton Hampstead 4 769.23x
St Gluvias 4 645.16x
Yealmpton 4 1290.32x
Newton Ferrers 3 1250.00x
Tintwistle 3 260.87x
Clase 2 31.65x
Tavistock 2 86.58x
East Stonehouse 1 25.00x
Exeter St David 1 57.80x
Gulval 1 140.85x
Kingskerswell 1 294.12x
Madron Penzance 1 24.88x
Royal Navy 1 10.06x
Tamerton Foliott 1 256.41x
Whitchurch 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Ann 3
Laura 2
Maud 2
Sarah 2
Alberta 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Jerimiah 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Margarett 1
Margerete 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 9
George 6
Thomas 4
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Henry 2
Richard 2
Saml. 2
Alfred 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Jabez 1
James 1
Moses 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Greep surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greep surname in 1881?

In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Greep surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greep surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Greep a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Greep surname mean?

A surname derived from the Dutch or German word "greep," meaning grip or grasp.

What does the Greep map show?

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